Scavenger hunt is a popular subgenre of action-adventure movies. Its success stems from its ability to fuel our inherent adventurous spirit. A treasure hunt movie is always steeped in history. This gives the story a sense of credibility that sparks the audience’s imagination, and they begin to imagine themselves in the place of the protagonist. The films “National Treasure”, “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Red Notice” are good examples.
“Uncharted,” which is based on the eponymous video game series published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation consoles and developed by Naughty Dog, follows that tradition by grounding its plot in real-world history. The treasure that protagonist Nathan Drake (Tom Holland), his allies and his enemies seek is said to have belonged to Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew. If you’re wondering if Magellan’s Treasure is real, we’ve got you covered. FRONT SPOILERS.
Is Ferdinand Magellan’s treasure real?
No, Ferdinand Magellan’s treasure is probably not real. His expedition is now known for many things, but a secret stash of gold and other valuable substances is not one of them. Emperor Charles V was the predominant sponsor of the expedition. He agreed to fund Magellan’s voyage because Spain needed a western sea route to the Spice Islands or the Moluccas, Indonesia. Portugal had taken control of the eastern sea routes following the implementation of the Treaty of Tordesillas, with which Pope Alexander VI distributed the world beyond Europe between Spain and Portugal in 1494.
Spain urgently needed an alternative route to bring in various spices from Indonesia. The expedition was launched from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain on September 20, 1519, and lasted three years, ending when the survivors returned to Sanlúcar de Barrameda on September 6, 1522. It is now best known for being the first complete recorded circumnavigation. of the earth. However, ironically, Magellan himself was no longer part of the crew when they returned to Sanlúcar de Barrameda. He was killed in the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521, in what is now known as the Philippines.
Magellan is said to have started the expedition with five ships – the Trinidad, the San Antonio, the Concepción, the Victoria and the Santiago – and 270 men. After Magellan’s death, several of his subordinates succeeded him. In the end, only 18 survivors made it back to Sanlúcar de Barrameda on the only remaining ship Victoria under the leadership of Juan Sebastián Elcano, also mentioned in the film.
The expedition managed to find an alternate route, but it was later discovered that the journey through it would be longer and more dangerous. It was therefore not a viable alternative for trade. He faced every possible problem a maritime expedition could face – from scurvy and mutinies to starvation, hostile native populations and storms – and had little to show for all their suffering at the end.
Charles V allowed Elcano to add a globe with the words “Primus circumdedisti me” (“You first surrounded me”) on his personal coat of arms. Elcano died on the Loaisa Expedition on August 4, 1526. Although Magellan may not have left any hidden treasures, his legacy is nonetheless quite significant. Interestingly, Sir Francis Drake, who is believed to be Nathan’s ancestor in the film and video game series, followed Magellan’s map while circumnavigating Earth between 1577 and 1580.
Read more: Where was Uncharted filmed?
