Ferdinand Magellan was born in northern Portugal in around 1480, either at Vila Nova de Gaia, near Porto, in Douro Litoral Province, or at Sabrosa, near Vila Real, in Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province.

He is the son of the late Rodrigo de Magalhães, Alcaide-Mor of Aveiro, son of Pedro Afonso de Magalhães and wife Quinta de Sousa) and wife Alda de Mesquita and brother of Leonor or Genebra de Magalhães, wife with issue of João Fernandes Barbosa.

After the death of his parents during his tenth year, he became a page to Queen Leonor at the Portuguese royal court.

In March 1505 at the age of twenty-five, Magellan had enlisted in the fleet of twenty-two ships sent to host Don Francisco de Almeida as the first viceroy of Portuguese India.

Although his name does not appear in the chronicles, it is known that he remained there eight years, in Goa, Cochin and Quilon.

He has participated in several battles, including the battle of Cannanore in 1506, where he was wounded.

In 1509, he fought in the battle of Diu.

He now sails under Diogo Lopes de Sequeira in the first Portuguese embassy to Malacca, a spice-trading center on the Malay Peninsula, with Francisco Serrão, his friend and cousin.

Sequeira tries to establish contact with the Sultan of Malacca in September 1509 but the expedition falls victim to a conspiracy ending in retreat.

Magellan has a crucial role, warning Sequeira and saving Serrão, who had landed.

They leave behind nineteen Portuguese prisoners.