On This Day In History: Magellan’s Expedition Circumnavigates Globe – On Sep 6, 1522

AncientPages.com - On Sep 6, 1522, one of Ferdinand Magellan's five ships–the Vittoria–finally arrived at Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Spain, thus completing the world's first circumnavigation.

Discovery of the Strait of Magellan. Image credit: Álvaro Casanova Zenteno (1857 - 1939)  -Public Domain

The Vittoria was commanded by Basque navigator Juan Sebastian Elcano, who took charge of the vessel after the murder of Magellan in the Philippines in April 1521.

During a long, challenging journey home, the ship's people suffered starvation, scurvy, and harassment by Portuguese ships.

Only the navigator Elcano, 17 other Europeans, and four Indians reached Spain in September 1522. Periodic food shortages were so severe that the men were reduced to eating rats and sawdust.

Magellan was not among the survivors of this expedition.

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