Overview
This lecture covers the events leading to Ferdinand Magellan's death during the 1521 Battle of Mactan, its significance for the Philippines, and its broader implications for the Age of Discovery.
Myths About Magellan's Voyage
- Magellan is often incorrectly credited as the first person to circumnavigate the globe.
- Ferdinand Magellan died in 1521 in the Philippines before completing the voyage.
- Sebastian Elcano completed the circumnavigation after Magellan's death.
Treaty of Tordesillas and the Quest for Spices
- The 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas divided new lands between Portugal (East) and Spain (West).
- The treaty ignored non-Spanish/Portuguese interests and indigenous populations.
- Spain sought a westward route to the Spice Islands, bypassing Portuguese-controlled Africa.
- Magellan, a Portuguese sailor, proposed a westward expedition for Spain.
Magellan's Expedition
- Magellan’s expedition began in August 1519 with five ships and about 270 sailors.
- Magellan discovered the Strait of Magellan in November 1520, entering the Pacific Ocean.
- Only three ships remained by the time they reached the Pacific.
Encounter in the Philippines
- Magellan reached the Philippines in March 1521, forming an alliance with Rajah Humabon of Cebu.
- Humabon converted to Catholicism and ordered his subjects to do the same.
- Lapu-Lapu, a local chieftain, refused to convert or submit to Spanish rule.
The Battle of Mactan
- On April 27, 1521, Magellan led 49 men against Lapu-Lapu’s 1,500 warriors.
- Magellan's ships could not support with cannon fire due to coral reefs.
- Lapu-Lapu strategically waited until the Spaniards were low on ammunition to attack.
- Lapu-Lapu focused on targeting Magellan, resulting in his death.
- Fourteen Spanish soldiers died; the loss delayed Spanish conquest by about 40 years.
Aftermath and Legacy
- The loss of men forced one ship to be abandoned; only one ship, led by Elcano, made it home.
- Of 271 crew, only 18 finished the journey back to Spain.
- Lapu-Lapu became a national symbol of Philippine resistance to foreign rule.
- Statues, coins, and city names in the Philippines honor Lapu-Lapu.
- Magellan is memorialized globally in geography and astronomy, despite his contested legacy in the Philippines.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Circumnavigate — to sail entirely around the world.
- Treaty of Tordesillas — a 1494 agreement dividing the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Portugal and Spain.
- Strait of Magellan — navigable sea route at the southern tip of South America discovered by Magellan.
- Rajah — a king or local ruler in South and Southeast Asia.
- Datu — a chieftain or local leader in the Philippines.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the Battle of Mactan and its impact on Spanish colonization efforts.
- Reflect on how local resistance influenced the Age of Discovery.
- Understand the broader effects of European exploration treaties on indigenous populations.