Discoveries travels (1524-1535)

• Under Francis the first

  • He contest the subdivision of the New World made by the Pope in 1493
  • He gave the conversion of Indians for motive
  • All the commissions gave by the King will mention the establishment of Christian faith and not precisely Catholicism
  • The first voyage of Jacques Cartier is an initiative of a Huguenot: Philippe de Chabot

   

• Jacques Cartier
  

Notes:

• Discoveries travels (1524-1535)
  

• In 1493, the Pope proclaim by the Tordesilla’s treaty that the New-World will be separate between Spain and Portugal. France at that time was more interested in the Mediterranean trade and did not contest that treaty. Francis the first, will understand that he must find a more direct root to Orient to compete with Spain. He therefore contest the treaty, asking the Pope to show him the article in Adam’s will on the division of the New-World. To coax the Pope, he will say that is motive is the conversion of the Indians.

• It is interesting to note that all the commissions given by the king from 1524 to 1588 will not explicitly mention the establishment of Catholic faith but will speak of Christian faith.

• A first voyage will be done by Verrazano in 1524. He will explore the east coast of America form Maine to Virginia.

• What is more interesting for our subject is that the first travel of Jacques Cartier in 1534 will be the initiative of a Huguenot: Philippe de Chabot. He is governor of Burgundy and Normandy, great admiral of France and a friend of the King. He will use is influence to convince the King for an expedition to the New-World. He will ask Jacques Cartier to be the chief of that enterprise.