Hans Staden
Encyclopedia
Hans Staden was a German soldier and mariner who voyaged to South America
. On one voyage, he was captured by the Tupinambá people of Brazil
whom he claimed practiced cannibalism
. He wrote a widely read book describing his experiences.
. He returned from this first trip on 8 October 1548, and, going to Seville
, enlisted for a second trip as a volunteer in an expedition for Río de la Plata
which sailed in March 1549. On reaching the mouth of the river, two ships sank in a storm. After vainly trying to build a barque
, part of the shipwrecked crew set out overland for Asuncion
. The rest of the crew, including Staden, sailed upon the third vessel for the island of São Vicente
, but were also wrecked. Staden, with a few survivors, reached the continent in 1552.
A few weeks later, while engaged in a hunting expedition, Staden was captured by a party belonging to the Tupinambá people of Brazil
. They carried him to their village (the precedessor of today's Ubatuba) where he claimed he was to be devoured at the next festivity. He allegedly won the friendship of a powerful chief, whom he cured of a disease, and his life was spared. The Portuguese tried several times to negotiate for Staden's ransom, but the Indians declined all overtures. At last he made his escape on a French ship, and on 22 February 1555, arrived at Honfleur
, in Normandy
, and from there went immediately to his native city.
enabled Staden to publish an account of his captivity
, entitled Warhaftige Historia und beschreibung eyner Landtschafft der Wilden Nacketen, Grimmigen Menschfresser-Leuthen in der Newenwelt America gelegen (True Story and Description of a Country of Wild, Naked, Grim, Man-eating People in the New World, America) (1557).
The Warhaftige Historia provided detailed descriptions of Tupinambá life and customs, illustrated by woodcut
s.
The book became an international bestseller and was translated into Latin
and many other European languages, reaching a total of 76 editions. Theodor de Bry produced illustrative engravings of Staden's story for his book Grand Voyages to America (1593), volume 3.
. Staden claimed that the Tupinambá were cannibals, gave vivid eyewitness accounts of the killing, preparing and eating of war captives
. According to one anecdote, the Indians at one point gave him a delicious soup; after finishing his dinner, he found in the bottom of the cauldron some small skulls, which he later found out to be those of the children in his choir.
Some scholars have challenged the book's reliability, arguing that Staden invented its sensational accounts of cannibalism. Others defend the book as an important and reliable ethnohistorical source.
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. On one voyage, he was captured by the Tupinambá people of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
whom he claimed practiced cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
. He wrote a widely read book describing his experiences.
Trips to South America
Staden had received a good education and was in moderate circumstances when desire for travel led him to enlist in 1547 on a ship that was bound for BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. He returned from this first trip on 8 October 1548, and, going to Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, enlisted for a second trip as a volunteer in an expedition for Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
which sailed in March 1549. On reaching the mouth of the river, two ships sank in a storm. After vainly trying to build a barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
, part of the shipwrecked crew set out overland for Asuncion
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
. The rest of the crew, including Staden, sailed upon the third vessel for the island of São Vicente
São Vicente, São Paulo
São Vicente is a coastal city of southern São Paulo, Brazil. Its estimated population in 2006 was 329,370 inhabitants.It was the first Portuguese permanent settlement in the Americas and the first capital of the Captaincy of São Vicente, now the state of São Paulo...
, but were also wrecked. Staden, with a few survivors, reached the continent in 1552.
A few weeks later, while engaged in a hunting expedition, Staden was captured by a party belonging to the Tupinambá people of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. They carried him to their village (the precedessor of today's Ubatuba) where he claimed he was to be devoured at the next festivity. He allegedly won the friendship of a powerful chief, whom he cured of a disease, and his life was spared. The Portuguese tried several times to negotiate for Staden's ransom, but the Indians declined all overtures. At last he made his escape on a French ship, and on 22 February 1555, arrived at Honfleur
Honfleur
Honfleur is a commune in the Calvados department in northwestern France. It is located on the southern bank of the estuary of the Seine across from le Havre and very close to the exit of the Pont de Normandie...
, in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, and from there went immediately to his native city.
Narrative of his captivity
After his return to Europe, the support of Dr. Johann Dryander in MarburgMarburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
enabled Staden to publish an account of his captivity
Captivity narrative
Captivity narratives are stories of people captured by "uncivilized" enemies. The narratives often include a theme of redemption by faith in the face of the threats and temptations of an alien way of life. Barbary captivity narratives, stories of Englishmen captured by Barbary pirates, were popular...
, entitled Warhaftige Historia und beschreibung eyner Landtschafft der Wilden Nacketen, Grimmigen Menschfresser-Leuthen in der Newenwelt America gelegen (True Story and Description of a Country of Wild, Naked, Grim, Man-eating People in the New World, America) (1557).
The Warhaftige Historia provided detailed descriptions of Tupinambá life and customs, illustrated by woodcut
Woodcut
Woodcut—occasionally known as xylography—is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface while the non-printing parts are removed, typically with gouges...
s.
The book became an international bestseller and was translated into Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and many other European languages, reaching a total of 76 editions. Theodor de Bry produced illustrative engravings of Staden's story for his book Grand Voyages to America (1593), volume 3.
Cannibalism
The aspect of the book that received the most attention, from the time of publication up to the present, was cannibalismCannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
. Staden claimed that the Tupinambá were cannibals, gave vivid eyewitness accounts of the killing, preparing and eating of war captives
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. According to one anecdote, the Indians at one point gave him a delicious soup; after finishing his dinner, he found in the bottom of the cauldron some small skulls, which he later found out to be those of the children in his choir.
Some scholars have challenged the book's reliability, arguing that Staden invented its sensational accounts of cannibalism. Others defend the book as an important and reliable ethnohistorical source.
Cultural references
- Hans Staden - Lá Vem Nossa Comida Pulando (Hans Staden - There He Comes, Our Food Jumping), a 1999 film, directed by Luis Alberto Pereira), spoken in the Tupi indigenous language (with subtitles in PortuguesePortuguese languagePortuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
) explores his adventures while being held captive by the Tupinamba.
- Como Era Gostoso o meu Francês (How Tasty Was My Little FrenchmanHow Tasty Was My Little FrenchmanHow Tasty Was My Little Frenchman is a Brazilian black comedy directed by Nelson Pereira dos Santos released in 1971.Almost all of the dialogue in the film was written in the Tupi language...
), a 1970 film, was based on Staden's stories (but did not include him as a character) and adds a subplot about the main character's love affair with a young native woman.
External links
- Facsimile of the original 1557 first edition
- Staden, Hans. Hans Staden's True History: An Account of Cannibal Captivity in Brazil. Edited and translated by Neil L. Whitehead and Michael Harbsmeier. Duke University Press, 2008. Hans Staden in Wolfhagen - 2007 conference agenda speech about Hans Staden Hans Staden: Wahrhaftige Historia
- Harry J. Brown, 'Hans Staden among the Tupinambas.'
- Short Review of Staden's Book, with Woodcuts
- The movie in IMDb