Top of page

Book/Printed Material Original Account of the Voyage of Jacques Cartier to Canada in 1534. Relation originale du voyage de Jacques Cartier au Canada en 1534

About this Item

Title

  • Original Account of the Voyage of Jacques Cartier to Canada in 1534.

Other Title

  • Relation originale du voyage de Jacques Cartier au Canada en 1534

Summary

  • In the 16th century, exploration and settlement of the New World was not a high priority of the French monarchy, which was primarily concerned about rivalry on the European continent with the powerful Habsburg Empire. Moreover, France was weakened by the Wars of Religion (1562-98). The first official voyage of exploration sponsored by France was undertaken in 1524 by an experienced Italian navigator, Giovanni da Verrazano (1485-1528), whom King Francis I (reigned 1515-47) commissioned to discover a new route to Cathay (China). Financed by Italian bankers established in France at Lyon and Rouen, Verrazano departed from Dieppe on the ship la Dauphine and explored the eastern coast of America from Cape Fear (North Carolina) to Cape Breton Island (Nova Scotia). He carefully reconnoitered every opening that gave hope for a passage to Asia, and he named the future site of New York New Angouleme. Ten years later, the king instructed Jacques Cartier (1491-1557), a Breton navigator from Saint-Malo, to undertake another expedition to the New World. Cartier left Brittany on May 10, 1534, with two ships and 61 crew members. He took 20 days to reach the coast of Newfoundland, and then explored the coast of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, where he encountered the Micmac Indians, who were friendly and wished to trade. At Gaspé Bay on the Gaspé Peninsula (in present-day Quebec), Cartier and his men erected a nearly 10-meter high cross. Cartier returned to France in September. With him were Taignoagny and Domagaya, two young Indians who Cartier either kidnapped or who were allowed to depart with him on the condition that the French would return with European goods (historians differ on exactly what happened). Testimony by Taignoagny and Domagaya about the existence of a fabulously rich "Kingdom of Saguenay" convinced King Francis to finance a second voyage in 1535-36, which Cartier led, bringing with him Taignoagny and Domagaya as guides. He also made a third voyage in 1541-42. Presented here is Cartier's account of his first voyage, published in an edited 19th century edition.

Names

  • Cartier, Jacques, 1491-1557 Author.
  • Michelant, Henri, 1811-1890 Editor.
  • Ramé, Alfred, 1826-1886 Editor.

Created / Published

  • Paris : Tross, 1867.

Headings

  • -  Canada--Newfoundland and Labrador
  • -  Canada--Quebec
  • -  1534
  • -  Cartier, Jacques, 1491-1557
  • -  Description and travel
  • -  France in America
  • -  France--Colonies
  • -  Indians of North America
  • -  Indigenous peoples
  • -  Micmac Indians
  • -  New France
  • -  Saint Lawrence River Valley
  • -  Saint Lawrence, Gulf of

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 130 pages.
  • -  Original resource at: National Library of France.
  • -  Content in French.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021667016

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Cartier, Jacques, Author, Henri Michelant, and Alfred Ramé. Original Account of the Voyage of Jacques Cartier to Canada in. Paris: Tross, 1867. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667016/.

APA citation style:

Cartier, J., Michelant, H. & Ramé, A. (1867) Original Account of the Voyage of Jacques Cartier to Canada in. Paris: Tross. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667016/.

MLA citation style:

Cartier, Jacques, Author, Henri Michelant, and Alfred Ramé. Original Account of the Voyage of Jacques Cartier to Canada in. Paris: Tross, 1867. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667016/>.