Ferdinand Magellan, Magalhaes in Portuguese (born in the spring of 1480 in the town of Sabrosa – Portugal; died in Mactan – Philippines on April 27th, 1521), is mostly known to be the captain of the first expedition that successfully traveled around the world, in the first half of the XVIth century.
Also during this travel, Magellan came to be the discoverer of the Patagonia, the southern region of the American continent. It happened on March 31st, 1520, when the Spanish fleet commanded by Magellan landed looking for a safety place to rest during the hard winter times.
They remained there until they finally decided to cross the strait that still separates both Atlantic and Pacific oceans on November 1st. This strait would later be known as Magellan Strait.
The chronicles written by the Patagonia discoverers defined the land as a vast and hostile without resources, inhabited by fiery natives (tehuelches and patagones) who inspired the Spanish to name the region.
After defeating a mutiny, Magellan decided to sail and continue their travel while Patagonia remained as a wild region for centuries, mainly undiscovered and considered as a frontier by the Spaniards that ruled the South American colonies. According to Patagonia history, it was not until the XIX century that migrations planned by now independent Chilean and Argentinean authorities successfully led to colonize this territory.
Back in the XVI century, the reason why Magellan left Patagonia was because he had another mission: to find a profitable commercial route between Spain and Asia. Fatally, the travel ended tragically for him. After the expedition crossed the whole Pacific Ocean, arriving to Philippines and Moluccas, they had to face a violent rising of the Cebuano tribe under Chief Lapu Lapu, in the isle of Mactan, who rejected to turn their faith to Christianity. About 1,500 Cebuano warriors defeated the small Spanish party of 50 sailors and soldiers. Only a few survived but Magellan was not fortunate.
The remains of the expedition, now under the rule of Captain Juan Sebastián Elcano, sailed away and finally arrived to Spain on September 6th, 1522, three years after they began their legendary travel.