Kingdom of Saguenay facts for kids
The Kingdom of Saguenay (in French: Royaume du Saguenay) was a legendary country that the French explorer Jacques Cartier tried to find in 1535. People believed it was located inland from what is now Quebec, Canada.
Native people had told Cartier about a very rich kingdom. The French government gave Cartier two ships to explore lands beyond Newfoundland. In 1542, Cartier started a settlement called Charlesbourg-Royal. His crew first thought they had found lots of diamonds and gold there. They sent these "treasures" back to France. But it turned out they were just quartz crystals and iron pyrites (also known as "fool's gold").
The Search for a Rich Kingdom
Historians have studied the search for the Kingdom of Saguenay. Between 1538 and 1543, France saw this search as a way to become more powerful. England had gained wealth from the discoveries of John Cabot. Spain had also become rich from mines in Mexico and Peru. France wanted to find its own treasures.
In 1986, an American historian named Samuel Eliot Morison wrote about this search. He explained how important it was for France to find new riches.
What Explorers Believed
In 1997, Canadian historian Daniel Francis concluded that Cartier truly "believed in the fanciful kingdom of Saguenay." He thought it was full of gold and diamonds, and that some of its people could even fly!
Other explorers also believed in similar rich lands in the North of present-day Canada. These included Martin Frobisher and Samuel Hearne. The idea of a hidden, wealthy kingdom was a big part of early exploration.
See also
In Spanish: Reino de Saguenay para niños
