Island events recap

Back

Date:   January 2009 - POLYNESIA

Alvaro de Mendana
Born in Spain in 1542, Alvaro de Mendana met with a tragic destiny after discovering the Salomon Islands and the Marquesas.

 Part I: 

Born in Spain in 1542, Alvaro de Mendana met with a tragic destiny after discovering the Salomon Islands and... the Marquesas nearly two centuries before the arrival of Cook and Bougainville in Tahiti. At the age of 21, he left Europe, along with his uncle assigned to the Tribunal of Lima, the capital city of Peru recently colonized by the Conquistadors. After a few years dedicated to the discovery of Peru and neighboring countries, young Alvaro was ordered to sail to the Salomon Islands, main stop of the commercial route opened by the Spaniards between Acapulco (Mexico) and the Philippines. Far from being a sailor, Mendana knew how to surround himself with competent men in order to succeed in his mission. After two successful years, Mendana returned after having caught the virus... of adventure. The charm of the Tropical Island remained in his thoughts during the rest of his life. Unfortunately he had to wait over 25 years before sailing again to his dear ilsands.

The difficulty of recruiting relaible crews, the lack of money to equip new ships, the authorizations to carry on his missions regularly turned down by people in high places, so many obstacles brought him to 1594. Having heard of the charms of the Salomons, many Spanish Colonists were ready to go there and start a new life. Mendoza, the Viceroy of Peru, seduced by this initiative, supplied equipment and ships to a restless Mendana. He left on June 16, 1595, after long months of preparation. Crews had to be recruited and other ships had to be found a little everywhere on the South American coast. Like many colonists, Mendoza brought along his wife, Isabel Barreto. He was truly leading the expedition, but Pedro Merino Manrique was in charge of military matters and organization, and Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, chief pilot and experienced sailor, was in charge of sea matters.. Four ships soon sailed away to the West to these famous Salomon Islands with their unique mores and richess. Two months at sea were waiting for them

 See … Part II

Back