Portugal

  • Ferdinand Magellan

    x   Ferdinand Magellan was born in Portugal around 1480. The exact location and date are unknown, however sources state he was the son of Rodrigo de Magalhaes and Alda de Mesquita, wealthy Portuguese nobles. His parents died around the time Ferdinand turned ten years of age, and Magellan was taken into Queen Leonora’s court as a Page, where he studied celestial navigation, cartography and astronomy, all of which would help with his later career. In 1505 when at the age of 25, Magellan was on board a vessel bound for East Africa. In 1509 he took part in the Battle of Dui, in the Arabian Sea, and in 1511 was…

  • John of Gaunt

    John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, was born on March 6, 1340 to King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault. He was called “John of Gaunt” because he was born in Ghent, then rendered in English as Gaunt. He was born a member of the House of Plantagenet. His older brother Edward, Prince of Wales (the Black Prince) was next in line to the throne until his death in 1376 following a ten year battle with recurrent amoebic dysentery. When Edward III died in 1377 and his ten-year-old grandson succeeded as Richard II of England, John’s influence strengthened. However, many people suspected him of wanting to seize…