Map of the Mississippi

Map of the Mississippi

The gigantic Mississippi River, which runs from north to south across practically the entire territory of United States and flows into the Gulf of Mexico, continues to fascinate to this day. Yet, how great must have been the fascination of the 16th and 17th century colonizers who reconnoitered the river? The Map of the Mississippi, which is stored in the collection of the Archivo General de Indias in Seville, heralds from this epoch. In 1519, Alfonso Álvarez de Pineda became the first European to spot the river’s estuary and chart it from the Gulf of Mexico. From 1538 to 1543, Hernando de Soto explored the rest of the river’s course, including its numerous tributaries—making it known to the European colonizers. Eventually, it was Robert Cavelier de la Salle (1643–1687) who, in 1682, became the first European to reach the mouth of the Mississippi from the river itself, after systematically investigating the river’s course.

Voyages of Discovery at the Behest of the Viceroy of Nueva Francia

The Map of the Mississippi from the Archivo General de Indias originates from 1699. It is dedicated to “excelentísimo Senor Duque de Jovenazo” through his “attendant, Don Armando de Arce, Baron de Lahontaan.” The map by Louis-Armand de Lom D’Arce (1666–1716), Baron of Lahontan, who followed the course of the river to its mouth at the behest of the viceroy of Nueva Francia (modern-day Canada). The Baron of Lahontan gained a large part of his information from Robert Cavelier de la Salle’s journal during the second journey. After his return, the Baron of Lahontan presented the map of his voyage of exploration along the Mississippi together with the previously-mentioned journal to the Spanish ambassador in Lisbon, the Duque de Jovenazo.

Tributaries, Settlements, and the Grandiose River

The gorgeous Map of the Mississippipresents the entire region of the massive American river on a sheet measuring 74.5 x 52.5 cm. The tributaries of the Mississippi were also recorded in detail. Between them lies the settlements of the indigenous population, in addition to a few splendid ships underway on the river. Numerous notes in Spanish give additional explanations. One finds indications of the title of the map, its dedication, and the one who commissioned it in the lower-left corner. A coat of arms (probably that of the Duque de Jovenazo) in the form of a compass rose adorns these achievements. An inscription gives information about the date of origin and additional background information about this splendid map. Information about the depictions and explanations of the map are collected in contoured boxes in the upper-left and lower-right corners, e.g. the various settlements, forts, ways, and lakes. The scale ratio of the map is indicated by means of a red scale on the lower-left half of the sheet.