Ferdinand Magellan and the Battle of Mactan

Summary

In 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

00:00

🌍 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.

05:02

🗡️ 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.

Keywords

💡Circumnavigation

Circumnavigation refers to the act of traveling around the entire Earth, typically by sea. In the video, it is mentioned that although Magellan's expedition was the first to achieve circumnavigation, Magellan himself did not complete the journey due to his death in the Philippines. This term is central to understanding the historical significance of Magellan's voyage and the ultimate achievement of Sebastian Elcano.

💡Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who is known for his role in the first expedition to circumnavigate the Earth. The video discusses how Magellan's death in the Philippines, specifically during the Battle of Mactan, prevented him from completing the voyage, which is a key point in the narrative of the Age of Discovery.

💡Sebastian Elcano

Sebastian Elcano was a Basque navigator who ultimately completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth after Magellan's death. The video highlights Elcano's role in finishing the journey, which is often overlooked in Western historical accounts but is a significant part of the story of global exploration.

💡Treaty of Tordesillas

The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement between Spain and Portugal in 1494 that aimed to divide the newly discovered lands outside Europe. The video explains how this treaty influenced Magellan's expedition, as it forced Spain to seek a western route to the Spice Islands, leading to Magellan's voyage and his eventual death in the Philippines.

💡Strait of Magellan

The Strait of Magellan is a navigable route through South America that allowed ships to pass from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Named after Ferdinand Magellan, who discovered it during his expedition, the Strait is a significant geographical feature that played a crucial role in the success of the circumnavigation attempt.

💡Rajah Humabon

Rajah Humabon was the ruler of the Rajahnate of Cebu in the Philippines during Magellan's time. The video describes how Humabon allied with Magellan, converted to Christianity, and provided support for the expedition. His actions and those of his chieftain Lapu-Lapu are central to the events leading up to the Battle of Mactan.

💡Lapu-Lapu

Lapu-Lapu was a chieftain of the island of Mactan who resisted Magellan's efforts to impose Spanish rule and Catholicism. The video emphasizes Lapu-Lapu's tactical brilliance in the Battle of Mactan, where he successfully defeated and killed Magellan, becoming a symbol of Philippine resistance to foreign domination.

💡Battle of Mactan

The Battle of Mactan was a significant conflict between Magellan's forces and the warriors led by Lapu-Lapu. The video details the battle's outcome, where Magellan was killed, and discusses its historical importance in both delaying Spanish colonization of the Philippines and symbolizing resistance to foreign rule.

💡Age of Discovery and Conquest

The Age of Discovery and Conquest refers to the period from the 15th to 17th centuries when European nations explored and colonized much of the world. The video uses the Battle of Mactan as a case study to illustrate the common mistakes and attitudes of Europeans during this era, such as overconfidence, underestimation of indigenous populations, and a lack of understanding of local customs.

💡Resistance to Foreign Rule

Resistance to foreign rule is a theme in the video that highlights the struggle of indigenous peoples against European colonization. Lapu-Lapu's victory in the Battle of Mactan is presented as an early example of such resistance, which has continued in various forms throughout history and is still relevant today.

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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