Martin Dobrizhoffer facts for kids

Martin Dobrizhoffer (born September 7, 1717 – died July 17, 1791) was an Austrian Roman Catholic missionary and writer. He is known for his detailed writings about the native people of Paraguay.

Biography of Martin Dobrizhoffer

Dobrizhoffer was born in a place called Frymburk in Bohemia. In 1736, when he was 19, he joined a religious group called the Society of Jesus, often known as the Jesuits.

In 1749, he traveled all the way to Paraguay in South America. For 18 years, he worked very hard as a missionary. He spent time with two different native groups: first the Guaranis and then the Abipones. He learned a lot about their cultures and ways of life.

Later, the Jesuits were asked to leave South America. Dobrizhoffer returned to Europe and settled in Vienna, the capital of Austria. He became friends with Maria Theresa, who was a powerful Empress. Even after his religious order was stopped for a while, he continued his work. He wrote a famous book about his time as a missionary. He passed away in Vienna in 1791.

Dobrizhoffer's Famous Book

Dobrizhoffer's most important book is called "An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay." It was first published in Vienna in 1784. He wrote it in Latin, and it was also translated into German.

The book is very detailed. It describes the Abipones, who were a group of people in Paraguay known for riding horses and being brave warriors. The book also shares many observations about the different native groups, cities, rivers, and animals like wild creatures, amphibians, insects, snakes, fish, birds, trees, and plants found in that part of South America.

An English translation of the book was published in London in 1822. This translation was done by Sara Coleridge, who was the daughter of a famous poet. She took on the task to help pay for her brother's college education.

A well-known poet named Robert Southey even mentioned Sara Coleridge's translation in one of his poems. He wrote about how Dobrizhoffer would have been pleased to know that his books were translated into English by such a talented person. Southey himself also wrote a long article about Dobrizhoffer's work in a magazine called the Quarterly Review.

Early Map of Paraguay

In 1780, a very important early map of the Paraguay region was published in Vienna. It was called "Mappa Paraquariae" and was created by Franz Assner. This map helped people understand the geography of the area better.