Quotes About Leadership

Although Portugal was celebrated for leading Europe into the Age of Discovery, Portuguese kings often frustrated their heroic mariners.

Drake, intensely annoyed by this challenge to his command

Da Gama received a royal appointment as viceroy of India

Magellan served at the pleasure of his Castilian captains, rather than the other way around.

set the stage for endless challenges to Magellan's authority, in other words, for mutiny.

Magellan ordered his ships to sail into the gulf, and when they were well within its embrace

time he joined the ranks of explorers who became estranged from this vain ruler.

made him pilot major; he then received an ambitious new commission to claim the Spice Islands for Spain.

Fear was his most important means of motivating his men; they became more afraid of Magellan than the hazards of the sea.

Soon after, Ferdinand canceled the expedition, but he sent word to his representatives in the Caribbean

Why would the queen greet Winter, a mutineer, with open arms?

Once the horror of the inquisitional catharsis subsided, Mesquita (with Magellan's blessing)

permission to hire only a dozen Portuguese; in reality, he was taking nearly forty with him.

mass execution appeared to be in the making, but the expedition could not continue without

Magellan preferred to anchor offshore, away from danger, as he continued his single-minded quest for the strait.

he was changing the name of the flagship from Pelican to Golden Hind

The prospect of a Portuguese leading a Spanish expedition through Portuguese waters

and a considerable amount of his authority as Captain General

The only choice left to them was a slavish adherence to Magellan's authority, even if it led over the edge of the world. There were two important exceptions to the general clemency:

Gaspar de Quesada, the leader and murderer of San Antonio's

By bringing in Haro, the king and his advisers would be giving up a significant amount of the profits.

After six months at sea, Magellan's ability to lead the armada was still in grave doubt.

Few among them had confidence that Magellan could lead them to the edge of the world and beyond

Magellan's pay came to 50,000 maravedís, and an additional 8,000 maravedís each month.