Today is Wednesday, April 27th, 2022.

On this day in 1521, explorer Ferdinand Magellan died in the Battle of Mactan.

Welcome to Today in True Crime, a Spotify original from Parcast.

I'm Vanessa Richardson, and today I'm joined by our guest host, Molly Brandenburg, from conspiracy theories.

Every week, their show delves into the complicated stories behind the world's most controversial cover-ups and mysteries. Molly will discuss the Battle of Maktan while I cover

the build-up to today's story. Thanks, Vanessa. I'm thrilled to be here. And now let's go back to

the island of Maktan on April 27, 1521.

Around 3 a.m., 60 men, mostly conquistadors, sailed close to the island's shores.

The bulk of the group was Spanish, and they were itching to show the might of their empire.

The force was led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan, shortly before he and his men became

the first Europeans to cross the Pacific Ocean.

But exploration was no longer their goal, now it was conquest.

Upon their arrival in the Philippines, Magellan decided to claim the islands in the name of Spain.

Now they were ready for battle with the Maktanese people.

They were the one tribe that resisted the explorers' attempt to convert the population to Christianity.

Magellan sent them an offer, convert, or be crushed.

In time, the messenger returned empty-handed. The Moctanese chief, Lapu-Lapu, was not in the mood to surrender.

Magellan ordered his men to pilot their ships close to Maqtan's coastline, but soon realized he had a problem.

Mactan was surrounded by jagged rocks and sharp reefs. The waters were too perilous for the Spaniards to sail their ships close.

This meant they couldn't simply fire on the people with their cannons.

Magellan didn't seem worried, though. He figured that his superior tactics and technology

would easily best the Moctanese. He ordered 49 conquistadors to board longboats and row

...