Louis-Armand de Lom d'Arce de Lahontan, Baron de Lahontan
Encyclopedia
Louis Armand, Baron de Lahontan (9 June 1666 – prior to 1716) served in the French
military in Canada
where traveled extensively in the Wisconsin
and Minnesota
region and the upper Mississippi Valley. Upon his return to Europe
he wrote an enormously popular travelogue. In it he embellished his knowledge of the geography of the Great Lakes
region and created several fictions. The immense popularity of the book resulted in his distorted cartography
being accepted by several eminent cartographers who incorporated the "Lahontan" concepts into most of the maps of the 18th century.
He was born into the aristocracy
and inherited the title Baron Lahontan upon his father's death in 1674. Through family influence, he joined the French Marine Corps and was sent to New France
in 1683. He quickly learned the Indian languages and became adept in wilderness survival. He was sent to command Fort St. Joseph
, near the present site of Port Huron, Michigan
.
He was a restless commander and spent much of his time exploring the region. In 1688 he joined a party of Chippewa Indians in a raid on the Iroquois
and later abandoned his fort and went to Michilimackinac
. During the following winter he explored the upper Mississippi valley where he allegedly discovered the "Longue River". After several other adventures, including a successful attack on five English frigates in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, he eventually deserted the French military and returned to Europe.
Deprived of his inheritance and not being able to return to France, he eventually settled in Holland where he found favor with the Elector of Hanover. There he wrote his memoir, in which he embellished his adventures evidently in an attempt to bolster the popular appeal of the book. He invented the tale of the discovery of the "Longue River" that stretched from the Mississippi
to a great range of mountains in the west. He depicted a short pass through the mountains from which another river flowed (presumably) into the Pacific. He included fantastic accounts of bearded Indian tribes who lived on islands in a great lake near the source of the river, and tales of crocodiles filling the waterways. He also used the book, in the form of a dialogue with an Indian named Adario ("The Rat"), for a controversial attack on what were then the accepted doctrines of Christianity
.
The story of a large river flowing from the west fired the imagination of his readers, since the early exploration of North America
is inextricably linked with the quest for a route to the Orient. The book was an immediate success and became a best seller. Over twenty editions were published between 1703 and 1741, including editions in French, English, Dutch and German. The book was extremely controversial and immediately brought charges from several critics as to the legitimacy of his discoveries. Even so, it was to influence the cartography of North America for the next 100 years. Variations of the "Longue River" were incorporated into the maps of such respected cartographers as Herman Moll
, John Senex
, Henry Popple, Guillaume de L'Isle, and Henri Abraham Châtelain. The theory was finally laid to rest with the discoveries of Lewis and Clark.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
military in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where traveled extensively in the Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
region and the upper Mississippi Valley. Upon his return to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
he wrote an enormously popular travelogue. In it he embellished his knowledge of the geography of the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
region and created several fictions. The immense popularity of the book resulted in his distorted cartography
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
being accepted by several eminent cartographers who incorporated the "Lahontan" concepts into most of the maps of the 18th century.
He was born into the aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
and inherited the title Baron Lahontan upon his father's death in 1674. Through family influence, he joined the French Marine Corps and was sent to New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
in 1683. He quickly learned the Indian languages and became adept in wilderness survival. He was sent to command Fort St. Joseph
Fort St. Joseph
Fort St. Joseph may refer to:In Canada:*Fort St. Joseph , on St. Joseph Island at southern end of the St. Marys River, now the site of Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site CanadaIn the United States:...
, near the present site of Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
.
He was a restless commander and spent much of his time exploring the region. In 1688 he joined a party of Chippewa Indians in a raid on the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
and later abandoned his fort and went to Michilimackinac
Michilimackinac
Michilimackinac is a name for the region around the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Early settlers of North America applied the term to the entire region along Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior. Today it is mostly within the boundaries of Michigan, in the United States...
. During the following winter he explored the upper Mississippi valley where he allegedly discovered the "Longue River". After several other adventures, including a successful attack on five English frigates in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, he eventually deserted the French military and returned to Europe.
Deprived of his inheritance and not being able to return to France, he eventually settled in Holland where he found favor with the Elector of Hanover. There he wrote his memoir, in which he embellished his adventures evidently in an attempt to bolster the popular appeal of the book. He invented the tale of the discovery of the "Longue River" that stretched from the Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
to a great range of mountains in the west. He depicted a short pass through the mountains from which another river flowed (presumably) into the Pacific. He included fantastic accounts of bearded Indian tribes who lived on islands in a great lake near the source of the river, and tales of crocodiles filling the waterways. He also used the book, in the form of a dialogue with an Indian named Adario ("The Rat"), for a controversial attack on what were then the accepted doctrines of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
The story of a large river flowing from the west fired the imagination of his readers, since the early exploration of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
is inextricably linked with the quest for a route to the Orient. The book was an immediate success and became a best seller. Over twenty editions were published between 1703 and 1741, including editions in French, English, Dutch and German. The book was extremely controversial and immediately brought charges from several critics as to the legitimacy of his discoveries. Even so, it was to influence the cartography of North America for the next 100 years. Variations of the "Longue River" were incorporated into the maps of such respected cartographers as Herman Moll
Herman Moll
Herman Moll , was a cartographer, engraver, and publisher. Moll moved to England in 1678 and opened a book and map store in London...
, John Senex
John Senex
John Senex was an English cartographer, engraver and explorer.He was also an astrologer, geologist to Queen Anne of Great Britain, editor and seller of antique maps and most importantly creator of the pocket-size map of the world.He was in particular, one of the principal cartographers of the 18th...
, Henry Popple, Guillaume de L'Isle, and Henri Abraham Châtelain. The theory was finally laid to rest with the discoveries of Lewis and Clark.