Mirko and Stjepan Seljan facts for kids
Mirko Seljan (born April 5, 1871) and Stjepan Seljan (born August 19, 1875) were famous Croatian explorers. They traveled across continents, discovering new places and mapping unknown lands. Mirko likely disappeared around 1913, and Stjepan passed away on June 7, 1936.
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Early Adventures of the Seljan Brothers
The Seljan brothers were born in Karlovac, Croatia. Back then, this area was part of Austria-Hungary. After finishing their basic schooling, they began to travel all over Europe.
Mirko, the older brother, became known as the "Champion Globetrotter" in 1898. He earned this name by walking all the way from Paris, France, to Saint Petersburg in Russia. It is thought that the brothers were inspired to explore by another Croatian adventurer, Dragutin Lerman. Lerman had been part of Henry Morton Stanley's team in Africa.
Stjepan Seljan's birth name was actually Štefan. Later in his life, people often called him Stevo.
Exploring Africa: A Grand Expedition
The Seljan brothers started their big journey in January 1899. They left Karlovac and headed to Trieste, which is now in Italy. From there, they visited Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt. They then walked along the famous Nile river towards Sudan.
After returning to Cairo, they traveled to Port Said, Djibouti, and Aden. They reached a narrow sea passage called Bab el Mandeb. They eventually arrived in Harar and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
Working with Emperor Menelik II
In Ethiopia, the brothers met Menelik II, who was the Emperor of Ethiopia. Important Europeans had recommended them to the Emperor. Menelik II was so impressed that he gave them an escort of 300 people. This large group helped them continue their journey south.
Mirko was made the governor of a southern province in Ethiopia. His brother Stjepan became his assistant governor. For three years, they worked to define the border between Ethiopia and Kenya. They also helped bring different tribes under the rule of Emperor Menelik II.
Their expedition and military camps were near Lake Turkana. These camps were named Seljanville and can still be found on maps today.
Mapping Borders and Discoveries
A major achievement of their journey was expanding Ethiopia's control. They helped extend its land to the right side of the Omo River. The current borders between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Kenya around Lake Turkana are still based on the maps the Seljan brothers drew.
In 1902, they had to leave due to political issues. However, they returned after a conflict between Britain and France ended.
Emperor Menelik II greatly respected the brothers. He gave them many gifts. Some of these gifts are still with their families today. Others are on display at the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb. The Seljan brothers' travels were sometimes affected by world politics. However, their main goal was always to learn new things and share their knowledge with the world.
Adventures in South America
In April 1903, the two brothers sailed to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. They wanted to explore areas that were still unknown. Their goal was to create new travel and trade routes. The Brazilian government was interested in their work. They wanted to improve trade and development from the east to the west.
The Croatian Scientific Mission
In 1903, the brothers set up the Croatian Scientific Mission. They made friends with the Guaraní tribe near the Aguapehu river. They also carefully mapped this area. By the end of 1903, they were traveling from Salta Grande to Asunción, Paraguay. Their journey ended on the Paraná River in Argentina. Their adventures are described in a book called El Salto del Guayran, published in 1905.
In 1905, they visited the amazing Iguaçu waterfalls. Later, they did research for the state of Santa Catarina.
Crossing the Andes and New Societies
At the start of 1905, the Seljans walked and rode mules across the Andes mountains from Argentina. They arrived in Chile. In Valparaíso and Santiago, they planned a new trip. They wanted to reach the Amazon River from the south.
Here, they met Croatian immigrants. They formed a group called the Sociedad Slava Exploradora de Mato Grosso. This means the "Slavic Society for the Exploration of Mato Grosso." This group helped support their expeditions. In May of that year, they went to Montevideo, Uruguay. They were joined by a new friend and explorer, Franjo Pommer.
They started their new expedition late, in 1908. They focused on the Rio Branco and Rio Maracá rivers in the Amazon delta. They became tired and frustrated by delays in getting permits. So, they returned to Chile, hoping to explore Peru and Bolivia.
In 1911, they explored the Atacama desert and the Tarapacá area. That year, they entered Peru for the first time. They created a company called Hrvatsko dioničarsko društvo (Croatian Brokerage Society). Its purpose was to help Peru plan and build roads. These roads would connect the Andes mountains to the Amazon basin.
The End of Their Journeys
In October 1912, the brothers went their separate ways for the first time. Stjepan traveled to the United States to start new business deals. Mirko was supposed to continue their research and begin a new expedition.
Mirko's group did not meet another group of explorers as planned. So, Mirko decided to go deeper into the rainforest by himself. He went near the Huayabamba river. After this, he was never seen again. Many ideas about what happened to him came up, but none were ever proven.
After his older brother disappeared, Stjepan kept exploring. He searched for valuable minerals in South and Central America. In 1917, he decided to settle down. He made his home in Ouro Preto, Brazil, where he passed away in 1936.
Why They Explored: A Legacy of Knowledge
The Seljan brothers' journeys were sometimes affected by world events. But their main goal was to learn and share new knowledge. They wanted to understand the world better.
During their travels, they made many observations. They collected information that was later used in studies of landforms, climate, and cultures. In their diaries, they wrote about the places they visited. They described the Indigenous tribes they met. They also left behind many sketches, photos, maps, and facts. These records show how much they enjoyed meeting new people and seeing new places.
