Before He Was A Sea Captain, He Fought In The Military

Before he was a sea captain and conquered the vast Pacific Ocean, he conquered the Indian Ocean, he fought in the military, and joined a Portuguese war fleet of 22 ships bound for India in March 1505. He received his first taste of the sea when he was only 25 years old. During this period, he learned the basics of sailing and navigation.

Ferdinand's life was not without incident, as he took part in crucial naval battles in support of Portugal's dominance of the worldwide trade between the East and the West. In 1506, he fought against the Indian ruler in the Battle of Cannanore, and in 1509, he fought in the Battle of Diu.

He was also a member of the ship fleet that sailed to Malacca, Malaysia today, where he played a crucial role in alerting the commander of incoming Malays. In 1511, he took part in the Portuguese general Afonso de Albuquerque's capture of Malacca.