Isabel Barreto facts for kids
Isabel Barreto de Castro (born in Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain, in 1567 – died in 1612) was a brave Spanish sailor and explorer. She made history as the first known woman to become an admiral! This means she was a top leader in charge of ships and voyages.
Isabel was married to Alvaro de Mendaña, a famous Spanish explorer. He led many trips across the Pacific Ocean. He was also the first European to discover the Solomon Islands and the Marquesas Islands.
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Her Life and Adventures
Isabel joined her husband on his last big trip from Peru into the Pacific Ocean. This was a very long and difficult journey.
Leading the Expedition
During the trip, in the Santa Cruz Islands, both her husband, Mendaña, and her brother, Lorenzo Barreto, sadly passed away. Isabel then took over as the leader, or "Adelantada," and Governor of the expedition. This was a huge responsibility!
She and the main ship's pilot, Pedro Fernández de Quirós, continued the journey. They finally reached Manila, in the Philippines. Only 100 people survived the trip, arriving in just one ship. At the start, there were 378 men and women on four ships. It was a terrible journey that lasted twelve weeks from their last stop in Santa Cruz (Nendö).
A Strong Leader
When they arrived in Manila, Isabel was honored for her leadership. Quirós was also praised for his hard work. Even though some crew members accused Isabel of being harsh, she showed incredible strength and determination. She was a very strict leader, which was important for keeping control of a crew of tough and adventurous men who often wanted to cause trouble.
Later Years
Later, Isabel married again to a general named Fernando de Castro. They sailed across the Pacific Ocean once more to Mexico. After that, they lived for several years in Buenos Aires before returning to Peru.
It is believed that Isabel sailed across the Atlantic Ocean one last time to Spain. She went to protect her rights to the Solomon Islands. The King of Spain, King Philip III, had given the right to explore and settle these islands to Pedro Fernández de Quirós. Isabel Barreto likely passed away in 1612. She might be buried in Castrovirreyna (Peru) or in Galicia, Spain.
The Expedition's Route
Here is the path of the 1595 expedition led by Mendaña, Barreto, and Quirós:
- El Callao, Peru: The journey began on April 9, 1595.
- Paita, Peru: They stopped here on June 16.
- Las Marquesas de Mendoza (Marquesas Islands): They were here from July 21 to August 5.
- San Bernardo (Pukapuka, Cook Islands): Arrived on August 20.
- La Solitaria (Niulakita, Tuvalu): Arrived on August 29.
- Solomon Islands:
- Tinakula: Arrived on September 7.
- La Huerta (Tomotu Noi), Recifes (Swallow Islands): Arrived on September 8.
- Santa Cruz (Nendö, Santa Cruz Islands): They stayed here from September 8 to November 18. They tried to start a colony, but Álvaro de Mendaña died here on October 18.
- Guam: Arrived on January 1, 1596.
- Manila: The expedition ended here on February 11.
In Books and Stories
The exciting story of this voyage is told in a book called The Islands of Unwisdom. It's a historic novel written by Robert Graves.
See also
- In Spanish: Isabel Barreto para niños
