Bartolomeu Dias vs Juan Sebastian Elcano

Dias commanded a Portuguese expedition that sailed around the southern tip of Africa, which he named the Cape of Storms. This proved the Atlantic and Indian Oceans were connected, opening a sea route to Asia. The cape was later renamed the Cape of Good Hope by King John II.

After rounding the Cape of Good Hope, Dias's crew forced him to turn back near the Great Fish River. He returned to Portugal in December 1488, reporting his discovery to King John II. The voyage lasted 16 months and covered over 6,000 miles.

Dias served as a captain in Pedro

Dias died when his ship sank during a storm near the Cape of Good Hope while returning from Cabral's expedition. Four ships from the fleet were lost in the same storm. Dias's body was never recovered.

Following Magellan's death at the Battle of Mactan, Elcano was elected by the surviving crew to command the Victoria. He made the decision to abandon the other ships and continue westward to Spain, rather than returning to the Moluccas.

After Magellan's death in the Philippines, Elcano took command of the Victoria and navigated it back to Spain via the Indian Ocean and around Africa. The ship arrived in Sanl

King Charles I of Spain granted Elcano a royal pardon for his earlier mutiny against Magellan. He was awarded a coat of arms featuring a globe with the motto 'Primus circumdedisti me' (You first encircled me) and an annual pension of 500 ducats.

Elcano served as chief pilot of the Garc

Elcano died of scurvy in the Pacific Ocean on August 4, 1526, while attempting to cross the Pacific for the second time. His body was buried at sea. The expedition ultimately failed to reach the Moluccas with most ships lost.