The Longest Voyage

Magellan's quest to reach the Spice Islands remains undaunted. But on September 20, 1519, he realizes his path will not lead east, under the flag of Portugal and King Manuel, but to the west, under the flag of Spain and King Charles V. In preparation for the mission, Magellan enlists a young marine named Antonio Pigafetta, a knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in Rhodes, who soon proves himself as a gifted naturalist, linguist, and fleet historian. The fleet leaves Spain in search of a fabled straight located at the tip of South America. Throughout the journey Magellan and his crewmen must endure violent storms, shipwrecks, mutinies, executions, cannibals, giants, starvation, and disease. Then, 98 days crossing the Pacific without landfall adds more suffering and death to an already weakened crew. The Armada faces its' greatest challenge in the Philippines, when Magellan is killed in the Battle at Mactan, and suffers further losses in the Massacre at Cebu. Depleted in ships and men, the remaining crew find the will to complete the mission and return to Spain alive. The three-year odyssey will be remembered as the greatest sea voyage of all time.