Magellan's Adventurous Journey: Leadership Lessons from the Armada de Molucca (part I)

On August 10, 1519, five ships set sail from Seville, commanded by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer in the service of the Spanish king. The fact that a Portuguese captain led a Spanish fleet ignited numerous conflicts on land and at sea. The first part of the journey, culminating in the discovery of a passage to the Pacific, was marked by continuous plotting against the captain-general.

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Leadership Challenges:

Similar to the conflicts faced by Odysseus and his successors, Magellan encountered conflicts with his deputy captains. These captains, like multiplied surrogates, harbored ambitions and envy. Chronicler Antonio Pigafetta provides detailed accounts of the expedition, generally favorable towards the "captain-general." However, Pigafetta noted Magellan's autocratic leadership style, deliberately concealing details of the voyage from ordinary sailors.

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The Quest for Power:

As a Portuguese navigator, Magellan was accustomed to keeping information about exploratory expeditions secret. In this case, he did not disclose that he had to find a waterway leading eastward to the Spice Islands (Moluccas). Disciplining the captains of other vessels, whose resentment towards the main commander was palpable, posed a challenge.

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Asserting Authority:

To assert his power over the other captains, Magellan issued written orders detailing safe navigation principles. These orders not only aimed to enhance safety but also strengthen his authority. They included watch systems, signaling protocols at night, and a controversial requirement for daily reporting at dusk to the flagship, Trinidad. Magellan made it clear that there was no other commander of the Armada Of Molucca but himself.

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Overcoming Threats:

During that era, geographic knowledge was limited, with over half of the world remaining uncharted. Sailors venturing beyond the familiar regions of the Atlantic feared falling off the edge of the world, boiling oceans beyond the equator, and encountering monstrous creatures. Magellan faced not only the vast Pacific Ocean with all its perils but also the ocean of human ignorance.

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The Battle Within:

Moreover, the king of Portugal, infuriated by Magellan's switch of allegiance to the Spanish crown, dispatched his own ships to capture and execute him as a traitor. Upon learning of this plot in the Canary Islands, Magellan altered his route, avoiding Columbus's westward path and sailing southwest along the coast of Guinea, where unfavorable weather awaited. He did not explain this to the Castilian captains, leading to a ready-made tinderbox of rebellion, with Juan de Cartagena leading the charge.

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The Breaking Point:

During a tense meeting in Magellan's cabin, he realized he had three out of four captains against him. Cartagena accused him of choosing a peculiar and perilous course along Africa and later leading the entire fleet into the doldrums. Magellan, prepared for the attack, swiftly made his move, demonstrating decisive action by physically confronting Cartagena and declaring him his prisoner in the name of the king.

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Leadership in Crisis:

Magellan's ability to swiftly regain control of all the ships, the subsequent torture, and execution of the mutineers played a significant role in preventing future rebellions. However, as the journey continued, Santiago was wrecked on a shore, and San Antonio stealthily escaped the Strait, returning to Spain to accuse the captain-general of grave offenses.

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Tragic End and Legacy:

Despite the many challenges and setbacks, Magellan's leadership proved instrumental in successfully navigating through uncharted waters, discovering the passage now known as the Strait of Magellan, and becoming the first European expedition to reach the Pacific Ocean. However, his journey came to a tragic end in the Philippines, where he was killed in a battle with local tribes.

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Magellan's legacy as a leader is a complex one. While his autocratic style and penchant for secrecy may have caused tensions among his crew, it is undeniable that his determination, strategic thinking, and ability to assert authority were crucial in overcoming the adversities they faced. His expedition ultimately achieved its objective of finding a westward route to the Spice Islands, opening up new possibilities for trade and exploration.

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Captain’s book “Ocean Feelings” is available only in Polish here

My previous 3 posts based on this book:

Ocean Feelings: Sailing Captain's Challenges

S/Y "Dal": A Tale of Teamwork and Resilience in Oceanic Sailing

Ancient Lessons in People Management from Odysseus' Journey