VENICE PUBLISHES THE FRENCH EXPLORATION IN THE WEST INDIES

THE SACRED MOUNTAIN NATIONAL HISTORICAL SITE

                        

       LA  PIAZZETTA  (SAN MARCO)  VENICE

The news of Jacques Cartier's exploration to Hochelaga was widely acclaimed in Venice. The more so since Serenissima was anxious to find a new access route to the East ever since the capture of Constantinople (Istambul) by the ottoman Turks in 1453. Thus, in 1556, a statesman of Venice who also was Secretary of the Council of Ten (the executive body of Venice) by the name of Giovanni Battista Ramusio, using a copy of Jacques Cartier's memoir to his king (one does not know how he obtained this document), reproduced in great details Jacques Cartier's explorations. This in the third volume of Delle Navigationi et Viaggi, a litterary work of the first importance, G.B. Ramusio reporting some fifty major explorations around the world.  But more still. Adding ot the memoir of Cartier, Venice added a plan of the greatest importance, the plan La Terra de Hochelaga which astonishes all by the its quality and the facts it revealed.

 

        A. VENICE (1556) - TERZO VOLUME - DELLE NAVIGATIONI ET VIAGGI -
by GIOVANNI BATTISTA RAMUSIO  

The third volume (terzo volume) of Delle Navigationi et Viaggi (see herewith) was published in 1556. In this third volume was described the major explorations then being conducted in the West Indies: that of Jacques Cartier beyond Terres Neuves (or Newfounland); that of Cortez in Mexico; that of Verrazano on the East coast of the West Indies; and others. Today, this third volume is a historical document of the first importance. It reveals the many questions facing the 16th century explorers and their approch to finding what lay outside Europe. In his description of Cartier's visit at Hochelaga, Giovanni Battista Ramusio, adding to Cartier's memoir to François Ier, BRIEF RECIT, joined a most surprising plan, the plan La Terra de Hochelaga, This plan is in total conformity with Cartier's memoir. Moreover its many incongruities show us today the extent of Europe's ignorance of "foreign people" living in the New World. Moreover, this admirable plan (see below) reveals a number of details about Hochelaga as Jacques Cartier saw it. This plan part of the Third Volume of Delle Navigationi et Viaggi was published three times: originally in 1556, then in 1565 and finally in 1606. This last time, two years before the foundation of Quebec by Samuel de Champlain. The plan shown below is part of the third 1606 edition.                                                     

This plan "La Terra de Hochelaga", a most surprising plan, appeared in the third volume of Delle Navigationi et Viaggi, a volume dedicated to discoveries in the West Indies. It shows the visit of Jacques Cartier, the French discoverer, at the Indian village of Hochelaga in 1535. It depicts in a European way how Venice envisioned the culture of the "unknown peoples" of the West Indies. Its author was a Venice statesman of great culture: Giovanni Battista Ramusio, Secretary of the Council of Ten. For Canada, it is a document of the highest importance. It shows a crucial moment in the history of the country, the birth of Canada.  In total conformity with the memoir the discoverer Cartier gave his king (the "Brief Recit" - 1545), the plan moreover depicts a number of incongruities showing the extent of the ignorance Europe had of the culture of the people of the West Indies (*).  Additionally and most surprisingly, the plan depicts a mountain whose profile is exactly that of Mount Royal.  This leads the possibility that one day one may find in Venice Jacques Cartier's original documents, the documents that allowed the author, G.B.Ramusio, to make his plan.  It is interesting to note here that Ramusio long hesitated to reproduce the many documents discoverers would give him, since he could hardly establish the quality of the documents then obtained.  For Canada, it is most fortunate that Ramusio did not follow his apprehensions. With this plan, today Canada posseses one of the most important documents, that marking his birth.

(*) For exemple, while Cartier mentionned 50 houses, Venice show 50 houses arranged in a chekerboard pattern. This shows the extent of Europe's ignorance of West Indies culture. Elsewhere while Cartier speaks of wood coverig the palissade of Hochelaga, Venice covered that palissade with wood planks, something totally alien to Indians who used tree tronks; etc, etc.

        

B. ISLAND OF MONTREAL by SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN

The coming of Jacques Cartier at Hochelaga in 1535 opened Canada to his development. In 1609, profiting of Cartier's discovery, Samuel de Champlain came anew on Montreal island. In one of his many plans, Champlain made the plan of the LaPrairie basin shown herewith. On this plan one can see Mount Royal with its three hills; the Lachine Rapids, or "Sault Saint-Louis"; also shown is a place identified as appropriate for a future colony. At that place, "Place Royale", Ville-Marie will take place in 1642, a century later.

 

C - DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH

SOURCES CANADIENNES ET QUÉBÉCOISES -

    C’est en vain que nous avons cherché les sources québécoises s’intéressant au patrimoine historique du mont Royal.  Le  gouvernement du Québec est totalement absent de la question.  Les quelques 500 musées du Québec sont muets sur la question. La ville de Montréal est pareillement étrangère au sujet.  Elle valorise le travail de l'Américain Olmsted.  Le Canada fait un peu mieux, esquissant le sujet.  
     - MUSÉE VIRTUEL DE LA NOUVELLE-FRANCE  -http://www.civilization.ca/vmnf/explor/explcd_f.html   -  Site du gouvernement du Canada à propos de Jacques Cartier.  L’une des sections est intitulée “Mensonge et prise de possession”.  Nous nous interrogeons sur l’idéologie qui sous-tend une telle affirmation.
    - LE CENTRE DE LA MONTAGNE  http://www.lemontroyal.qc.ca/en_index2.html - Site sis au parc Mont-Royal supporté par Montréal.  Le site  se limite à la valorisation du milieu naturel du parc Mont-Royal. Il taie l'énorme patrimoine historique du mont Royal.
    - LE PARC MONT-ROYAL - http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/parcs/mont_royal/mont_royal.htm   Ce site de la ville de Montréal est semblable au précédent.  Il valorise le milieu naturel de la montagne et taie son patrimoine historique.   Il prolonge la philosophie avancée en 1875. 
    - MUSÉE DE LA NOUVELLE-FRANCE - http://www.civilization.ca/vmnf/avent/abc09-12/accu_cdf.htm - Site fédéral du Musée de la Civilisation qui esquisse le sujet
    - SITE DU PATRIMOINE MONDIAL - Site informatique décrivant les 13 sites inscrits au Patrimoine Mondial de l’UNESCO, Le site décrit les 730 biens que le Comité du patrimoine mondial a inscrit sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial   (563 biens culturels, 144 biens naturels, et 23 biens mixtes)  http://www.ovpm.org/frame.asp?t=http://www.unesco.org//whc/fr/patrimoi.htm#debut -  Le MONT ROYAL possède tous les prérequis qui lui permettent de devenir SITE DU PATRIMOINE MONDIAL

     - SITE ICOMOS - Site informatique du Conseil International des Monuments et les Sites (ICOMOS). Cet organisme gère les 730 sites inscrits par l’UNESCO au titre de sites du patrimoine mondial. - http://www.international.icomos.org/f_somair.htm -
(Nota bene - ICOMOS est une organisation internationale non-gouvernementale de professionnels, qui oeuvre à la conservation des monuments et des sites historiques dans le monde)

Give us your impressions These will be very much appreciated.

	Hochelaga (click)	Jacques Cartier (click)	Montreal - the Metropolis (click)	The Sacred Mountain (click)	G.B. Ramusio (click)
		.....less history disappears totally with time..

(click)

Pierre Larouche, town planner