Martín Ignacio de Loyola facts for kids

Martín Ignacio Martínez de Mallea, also known as Martín Ignacio de Loyola (born around 1550 in Eibar, Spain – died 1606 in Buenos Aires), was a Franciscan friar. He is famous for traveling around the world twice. He was the first person to complete two world trips in different directions. He also worked as a missionary in China.

Martín Ignacio was a grandnephew of Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuits. He became a priest in Alaejos in 1572.

Journeys Around the World

Loyola made both of his long journeys when Spain and Portugal were united under King Philip II of Spain. This made it easier to travel to different parts of the world controlled by these two powerful countries.

First Trip Around the World: 1582–1584

Loyola's first journey around the world went in a westerly direction.

He started his trip from Cadiz, Spain, on June 21, 1582. First, he sailed to the Canary Islands. Then, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean to places like Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo. He finally arrived in Veracruz, Mexico. After crossing Mexico to the Pacific Ocean coast at Acapulco, he continued sailing west.

He visited the Mariana Islands and the Philippines. Eventually, he reached China, landing in Fujian province. In China, he and his friends were thought to be spies. They were sent to Guangzhou. After a year, they were set free and sent to Macau. He then traveled to Japan. From Japan, he continued sailing west to return to Europe. He went through the Straits of Malacca, Portuguese India, around the Cape of Good Hope, and past Saint Helena. He finally arrived back in Lisbon, Portugal.

Loyola wrote about his first journey. His story was published in Rome in 1585. It was part of a book by Juan González de Mendoza about China.

Second Trip Around the World: 1585–1589

Loyola's second journey around the world went in an easterly direction.

It's not fully clear how he started his eastward trip to China. In 1587, from Macau, China, Loyola continued traveling east across the Pacific Ocean. He sailed to Acapulco, Mexico, on a ship led by Pedro de Unamuno. From Acapulco, he crossed Mexico to Veracruz. From Veracruz, he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean back to Spain.

Other Travels and Becoming a Bishop

In 1595, six years after his second trip around the world, he traveled to Paraguay. He reached Paraguay by going through Panama, Peru, and Chile. The Spanish governor of Chile at that time, Martín García de Loyola, was his cousin. He also traveled through the Río de la Plata region.

He returned to Spain in 1600. In 1603, he went back to Paraguay, but this time as the Bishop of Asunción. He had become a bishop in Valladolid, Spain, the year before. He was made a bishop by Juan Bautista Acevedo Muñoz, who was the Bishop of Valladolid.

See also

• Jesuit China missions
• First Synod of Asunción
• List of circumnavigations
• Circumnavigation
• Pedro Cubero
• Pedro Ordóñez de Ceballos