Ferdinand Magellan and the Battle of Mactan
Summary
TLDRIn this historical exploration, the video challenges the common misconception that Ferdinand Magellan was the first to circumnavigate the globe, as he died in the Philippines in 1521. The actual completion of the journey is attributed to Sebastian Elcano. The script delves into the Treaty of Tordesillas, Magellan's expedition, and the pivotal Battle of Mactan, where Magellan's overconfidence led to his demise against the strategic Lapu-Lapu. This event not only delayed Spanish colonization but also symbolizes Philippine resistance, with Lapu-Lapu becoming a national hero. The video serves as a reminder of the era's colonial errors and the impact on world politics.
Takeaways
- 🌍 Ferdinand Magellan's expedition was the first to circumnavigate the globe, but Magellan himself did not complete the journey.
- 🗺️ Magellan died in 1521 in the Kingdom of Mactan, now part of the Philippines, during the Battle of Mactan.
- 🏝️ Sebastian Elcano, one of Magellan's officers, completed the circumnavigation, yet Magellan is often incorrectly credited with the full achievement.
- 📜 The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 aimed to divide the New World between Portugal and Spain, ignoring other European powers and indigenous populations.
- 🚢 Magellan's expedition was funded by Spain to find a western route to the Spice Islands, leading to his journey around South America and into the Pacific.
- 🛳️ The Strait of Magellan, discovered by Magellan, allowed European ships to navigate around South America for the first time.
- 🏰 Rajah Humabon of Cebu allied with Magellan, converting to Catholicism and supporting the expedition, but his chieftain Lapu-Lapu resisted.
- 🔍 Magellan's overconfidence led to his downfall in the Battle of Mactan, where he faced Lapu-Lapu with a significantly smaller force.
- ⚔️ Tactical errors and underestimation of the local warriors led to Magellan's death and the loss of many of his men.
- 🗽 The Battle of Mactan delayed Spanish colonization of the Philippines and is commemorated as a symbol of resistance in the Philippines.
Q & A
Who is credited with the first circumnavigation of the globe, and who actually completed it?
-Ferdinand Magellan's expedition is credited with the first circumnavigation of the globe, but Magellan himself did not complete it. It was Sebastian Elcano, one of his officers, who actually completed the journey.
In what year did Ferdinand Magellan die, and where did this occur?
-Ferdinand Magellan died in 1521 in the Kingdom of Mactan, which is now part of the modern-day Philippines.
What significant event in the Philippines is associated with Magellan's death?
-The death of Ferdinand Magellan is associated with the 1521 Battle of Mactan, which is considered one of the most important events in Philippine history.
Why was Magellan's expedition in the Philippines important for the era of Discovery and Conquest?
-Magellan's expedition in the Philippines is important because it provides a lesson on the nature of the Era of Discovery and Conquest, highlighting the arrogance, underestimation of local populations, and the overestimation of European arms that were common during this time.
What was the Treaty of Tordesillas and how did it affect Magellan's expedition?
-The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement in 1494 between Portugal and Spain to divide the New World between them. It affected Magellan's expedition because it forced Spain to find a western route to the Spice Islands, leading to Magellan's voyage around South America and into the Pacific.
How did the Strait of Magellan come to be named, and what is its significance?
-The Strait of Magellan was named after Ferdinand Magellan because he discovered it, allowing ships to navigate around South America. Its significance lies in being a crucial part of the first circumnavigation route.
Who was Rajah Humabon and what was his relationship with Magellan?
-Rajah Humabon was the King of the Rajahnate of Cebu in the southern part of the Philippine Islands. He allied with Magellan, converted to Catholicism, and provided support in the form of food and supplies for Magellan's ships.
Why did Magellan's expedition fail to force Lapu-Lapu to submit, and what was the outcome of the Battle of Mactan?
-Magellan's expedition failed to force Lapu-Lapu to submit due to Magellan's overconfidence and underestimation of Lapu-Lapu's forces. The outcome of the Battle of Mactan was Magellan's death and a significant loss for his expedition, which delayed Spanish dominance in the Philippines.
How did the loss of Magellan affect the rest of the expedition, and what was the final outcome for the remaining sailors?
-The loss of Magellan and many sailors in the Battle of Mactan left the expedition with insufficient manpower to operate three ships, leading to the abandonment of one and the loss of another. Only one ship made it back to Spain with 18 survivors, including Sebastian Elcano who circumnavigated the globe.
What is the legacy of Lapu-Lapu in the Philippines, and how is he commemorated today?
-Lapu-Lapu is considered a symbol of Philippine resistance to foreign rule and is commemorated with statues, the naming of Lapu-Lapu City, and annual reenactments of the Battle of Mactan. His legacy represents the fight against foreign domination and the forced imposition of European culture and religion.
Outlines
🌍 Ferdinand Magellan's Fateful Journey
The paragraph discusses the misconception that Ferdinand Magellan was the first to circumnavigate the globe, which is incorrect as he died in the Philippines in 1521. The actual completion of the journey was achieved by one of his officers, Sebastian Elcano. The paragraph delves into the historical significance of Magellan's death in the Philippines, contrasting the Western world's ignorance of this event with its importance in Philippine history. It also sets the stage for the exploration of why Magellan ended up in the Philippines, explaining the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 that divided the New World between Spain and Portugal. Magellan, despite being Portuguese, proposed a western route to the Spice Islands to the Spanish king, leading to his expedition in 1519. The paragraph concludes with the arrival of Magellan's fleet in the Philippines and the conversion of Rajah Humabon of Cebu to Catholicism, setting the stage for the conflict with Lapu-Lapu of Mactan.
🗡️ The Battle of Mactan and Its Legacy
This paragraph narrates the Battle of Mactan, where Ferdinand Magellan was killed by Lapu-Lapu's warriors. It highlights Magellan's overconfidence, tactical errors, and the effective resistance led by Lapu-Lapu, who utilized the terrain and his warriors' numbers to his advantage. The battle resulted in a significant delay in Spanish colonization of the Philippines and the loss of many of Magellan's men. The aftermath saw the abandonment of one ship, the failed return of another, and only one ship with 18 survivors, including Sebastian Elcano, making it back to Spain after circumnavigating the globe. The paragraph also discusses the enduring legacy of Lapu-Lapu as a symbol of resistance in the Philippines, with various monuments and annual reenactments commemorating the battle. It contrasts the global recognition of Magellan's navigational achievements with the local significance of his death as a symbol of resistance to foreign domination.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Circumnavigation
💡Ferdinand Magellan
💡Sebastian Elcano
💡Treaty of Tordesillas
💡Strait of Magellan
💡Rajah Humabon
💡Lapu-Lapu
💡Battle of Mactan
💡Age of Discovery and Conquest
💡Resistance to Foreign Rule
Highlights
Ferdinand Magellan's expedition was the first to circumnavigate the globe, but Magellan himself did not complete the journey.
Magellan died in 1521 in the Kingdom of Mactan, which is now part of the Philippines.
Sebastian Elcano, one of Magellan's officers, completed the circumnavigation of the globe.
The death of Magellan is considered a significant event in Philippine history, but is largely forgotten in the West.
The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 divided the New World between Portugal and Spain, influencing Magellan's expedition.
Magellan, a Portuguese, proposed to the King of Spain a western route to the Spice Islands.
Magellan's expedition set off in 1519 with five ships and about 270 sailors.
The Strait of Magellan was discovered in November 1520, allowing passage around South America.
Magellan's expedition was the first to enter the Pacific Ocean on November 28th.
Rajah Humabon of Cebu became an ally of Magellan and converted to Catholicism.
Datu Lapu-Lapu of Mactan refused to convert to Catholicism or submit to Spanish rule.
Magellan's overconfidence led him to confront Lapu-Lapu with only sixty men.
The Battle of Mactan on April 27th, 1521, resulted in Magellan's death due to tactical errors and underestimation of the enemy.
The loss of Magellan delayed Spanish dominance in the Philippines by around 40 years.
Only 18 sailors returned to Spain after the expedition, with Sebastian Elcano being the one who circumnavigated the globe.
Lapu-Lapu is remembered as a symbol of Philippine resistance to foreign rule.
The Battle of Mactan represents common European errors during the Age of Discovery and Conquest.
Lapu-Lapu's legacy includes a city named after him and annual reenactments of the Battle of Mactan.
The irony of Magellan's death as a symbol for those who oppose the consequences of his navigational achievements.
Transcripts
Hi, I'm the History Guy. I have a degree in history,
I love history and if you love history too this is the channel for you.
If you studied history in high school you might have heard that Ferdinand Magellan was the first
person to circumnavigate the globe and if that's what you heard, or that's what you remember,
you would be wrong. While Magellan's expedition from 1519 to 1522 was the first to circumnavigate
the globe, Magellan himself didn't make it the whole way. He actually died in 1521 in the Kingdom
of Mactan, which is part of the modern-day country of the Philippines. And it was another one of his
officers, one Sebastian Elcano, who actually completed the circumnavigation of the globe.
But it's not just interesting that Magellan didn't make it the whole way,
and that people in the West don't seem to remember that Magellan didn't make it the whole way,
because it's important why Magellan didn't make it the whole way. Because in the Philippines,
the death of Ferdinand Magellan is considered one of the most important events in history, and here
in the West we really have no idea that he even died. And we really should know how and why he
died, because it provides a really great lesson on the nature of the Era of Discovery and Conquest.
And it explains a lot about world politics today. And so today we are going to remember the
well remembered in the Philippines, and forgotten in the Western world, 1521 Battle of Mactan.
To understand how Magellan came to die in the Philippine Islands you have to understand a
little bit about how Magellan came to be in the Philippine Islands, and that all has to do with
the treaty that was signed in 1494 between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of Castile
in Spain. And essentially the purpose of the treaty was to divide up the new world between
Portugal and Spain. Now understand, this treaty didn't pay any attention to the interest to say,
other European countries in the New World, that certainly didn't pay any attention to the interest
of hundreds of millions of indigenous people who thought of the “New World” as, you know,
“Home”. But it was intended to reduce conflict between Spain and Portugal over the new lands,
and essentially what the treaty did is they drew a line down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and
said, Portugal gets East and Spain gets West. And that offered a unique challenge for Spain because
Spain wanted access to the Spice Islands, and because of the treaty they couldn't do that
by going around Africa. And so what they really needed was a route that would go around
the Americas, the lands that were discovered by Columbus, and go westerly to the Spice Islands,
a Western route to the Spice Islands. And that's where Ferdinand Magellan comes in.
Now ironically, Magellan himself was Portuguese, but he brought a proposal to the King of Spain,
Charles the First, to lead an expedition to identify the western route, and Charles the First
agreed to fund an expedition that included, five ships and about 270 sailors,
and that expedition kicked off in August of 1519.
After spending the winter in South America, Magellan discovered the Strait that allows you
to go around South America, that's now called the Strait of Magellan, in November of 1520.
And by then he was already down to just three ships, one had been wrecked, one had mutinied
and returned back to Spain, and so those three ships went through the Strait of Magellan,
and by November 28th they were the first Europeans to enter the Pacific Ocean.
After being the first Europeans to visit the island of Guam, they went on and by March 21st of
1521, became the first Europeans in the Philippine island. And there Magellan found an ally in the
form of Humabon, who was the Rajah or King of the Rajahnate of Cebu, which was in the southern part
of the Philippine Islands, and Rajah Humabon and his wife converted to Catholicism, the first
to do so in the Philippines. And then the Rajah sent an order throughout his kingdom saying that
everybody should convert to Catholicism and that they should send food and supplies for Magellan's
ships. While the order was generally followed except for just one of Humabons chieftains, one of
the Datu, the chieftain of the island of Mactan, whose name was Lapu-Lapu, and Lapu-Lapu said that
he would not convert to Catholicism, and that he would not follow the orders of the King of Spain.
And so Humabon suggested that Magellan take his ships over Mactan, and force Lapu-Lapu to submit.
It's clear that Magellan was overconfident because he took with him just sixty men, and even though
he had warriors of Humabon with him, he told them to stay in the ships because he wanted them to
witness the power of his European weapons. The actual battle was on April 27th and because he
left a few of his men to guard his boats, Magellan only had 49 men with him, whereas Lapu-Lapu had
1,500 warriors. And we don't know much about Lapu-Lapu, but it turns out that he was a pretty
brilliant tactician, or at least he had Magellan's strength figured out, I mean first of all,
on the island there was so much coral and rock out in the ocean that Magellan ships could not get
close enough to use their cannon, and that already denied Magellan some of his most powerful weapons.
But then Lapu-Lapu kept his warriors at a good enough distance, then Magellan's men with their
muskets and crossbows, couldn't do a lot of damage, and he waited to charge until they
were almost out of ammunition. When his 1,500 men did charge, Lapu-Lapu told them stab at the legs,
because while the Spanish wore good armor, they didn't armor their legs and most importantly
Lapu-Lapu told them, kill the leader. So that they all charged Magellan, because Lapu-Lapu knew
that the whole attack would fail if Magellan fell, and so 1,500 guys came to stab Ferdinand Magellan.
Magellan was swamped and killed, now many of his troops got away but they lost about fourteen
other troops in the battle, and while a battle where only 14 died doesn't seem like a big deal
the actual loss of Magellan delayed the Spanish dominance of the Philippines by around 40 years.
With the loss of so many people in the battle, the expedition didn't have enough sailors left
to operate three ships, so one of the ships was abandoned, one tried to return home via
the Pacific route the way that they came, and one decided to try to return home via the
Indian Ocean and around the Horn of Africa and that's the only ship that made it back. Of the
271 sailors that had left on the expedition, there were only 18 on that boat that returned to Spain,
with one Sebastian Elcano that had circumnavigated the globe. We really don't know what happened to
Lapu-Lapu, there's no record of his death, but according to local legend he didn't die,
he turned into a stone, and local fishermen still throw coins at a vaguely human shaped
rock in the ocean there to thank Lapu-Lapu for the privilege of fishing in his waters.
The Battle of Mactan is important for a few different reasons starting of course with the
death of Ferdinand Magellan, who was a very powerful personality, and who clearly would
have done more in his life if he hadn't ended up on the end of a spear. It also represents
the errors that were commonly made by Europeans in the Age of Discovery and Conquest, that arrogance,
that underestimating the local population, that overestimating the power of European arms and that
inability or unwillingness to understand local customs and power structures, and those errors
would be repeated again and again in the Far East, in the Pacific, in Africa and South America.
But most of all the Battle of Mactan is important for the people of the Philippine Islands, I mean
immediately one of the effects was it was many years before Spain can mount another meaningful
expedition to the Philippine Islands, but in the long run Lapu-Lapu has retroactively become the
symbol of Philippine resistance to foreign rule, which has really been a cause in the Philippine
Islands since the 16th century, and this a little bit anachronistic because the fight,
the Battle of Mactan, was really over local power structures in the kingdom. But the reason
that Lapu-Lapu resisted was because he did not want to have a European religion forced on him,
and so he is this symbol for people who fight the Age of Exploration and Conquest. There are several
statues of Lapu-Lapu there are the main city in Mactan is named Lapu -Lapu City, Lapu-Lapu's
head was on the 1 Sentimo coin in the 1960s and 1970s, and the people of Mactan still annually
reenact the Battle of Mactan. And that's a real irony because, here we have Ferdinand Magellan,
who is a man whose navigational skills were so important that there are several geographic
features on Earth named after Ferdinand Magellan, but there are actually craters on the moon, and
on Mars that are named after Ferdinand Magellan, and two of the closest galaxies to the Earth are
named after Ferdinand Magellan, and yet his death is a symbol to people who oppose everything that
his navigational skills brought, which was the theft of their land and their culture,
and that irony alone is enough reason for you to know about the 1521 Battle of Mactan.
I'm the History Guy, I hope you enjoyed this edition of my series,
five minutes of history short snippets of forgotten history five to ten minutes long. If you
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