Luis de Mendoza

Artist's depiction of Mendoza's death by stabbing during the attempted mutiny against Ferdinand Magellan while overwintering in Patagonia in 1520. Luis de Mendoza (died 2 April 1520) was a Spanish mariner and explorer. He was captain of the nao Victoria and treasurer of the Magellan-Elcano´s expedition. He died in Patagonia while participating in a mutiny against Magellan.

Biography Mendoza was a member of Magellan's circumnavigation of the world, the initial captain of the Victoria. He was appointed by Charles I of Spain on March 30, 1519 as treasurer of the navy "for the discovery of the Spices", that had the purpose of finding a route to the Spice Islands within the limits of the Spanish demarcation to the Spice Islands. These limits had been agreed with Portugal in the Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494, establishing a line of demarcation that divided the world between both crowns.

During the expedition, Juan de Cartagena asked Magellan to tell him the route they were following, but the Portuguese never revealed this information to the crew. This annoyed Cartagena and others. During a meeting, Magellan arrested Cartagena and replaced him with Antonio de Coca, first, and then with Álvaro de Mezquita.

On March 30th, 1520 the expedition arrived at the San Julian Bay, where Magellan decided to rest during the winter, where he left Cartagena under the vigilance of Gaspar de Quezada. During the winter some members of the crew started a mutiny, demanding that Magellan share the information about the route. Mendoza was one of the leaders of this riot.

He was killed while leading a mutiny against Magellan in Patagonia, stabbed to death in the throat and head by a Magellan loyalist.