Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese nobleman who had served his country as a soldier in the Indies. Like Columbus, he believed that a western voyage would be much quicker than the Portuguese route. He was sure there was a strait, or sea passage, through the American continent, and that Asia was close beyond. Charles I, new king os Spain, agreed to sponsor the plan. He gave Magellan 5 small ships and about 265 men. In September 1519, the ships set sail.