Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa facts for kids

Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa was a Spanish explorer and writer.

Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa (1532–1592) was a Spanish explorer, writer, and historian. He was also skilled in mathematics and astronomy. His exact birthplace isn't known for sure. It might have been Pontevedra in Galicia, where his father's family came from. Or it could have been Alcalá de Henares in Castile, where he later studied. His father, Bartolomé Sarmiento, was born in Pontevedra, and his mother, María Gamboa, was from Bilbao in the Basque Country.

Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa's Life

Early Adventures and Challenges

When Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa was 18, he joined the royal military. He fought in European wars from 1550 to 1555. In 1555, he began his life as an explorer, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean.

His first stop was New Spain (which is now Mexico). He lived there for two years. We don't know much about this time, except that he faced some difficulties with the Inquisition, a powerful religious court. After that, he sailed to Peru, where he lived for more than twenty years. He became well-known as a skilled navigator.

Searching for New Lands

While in Lima, Peru, Sarmiento de Gamboa faced accusations from the Inquisition. They claimed he had unusual items and followed different beliefs.

Later, he joined an expedition led by Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira. Their goal was to find the unknown southern land, called Terra Australis, by sailing through the southern Pacific Ocean. Sarmiento believed they would find New Zealand or Australia. However, in 1568, they discovered the Solomon Islands instead. The expedition didn't find gold, and attempts to build a settlement on the islands failed.

Mendaña wanted all the credit for the discoveries. So, he threw Sarmiento's maps and journals overboard. He also left Sarmiento behind in Mexico. But a trial was held in Lima, and Sarmiento was given credit for the discoveries.

Writing the History of the Incas

In 1572, the leader of Peru, Francisco de Toledo, asked Sarmiento to write a history of the Inca Empire. Toledo hoped this history would show that the Incas had a violent past. This would help justify why the Spanish had taken over the region.

Sarmiento gathered stories directly from Inca people. He wrote a history, often called The History of the Incas, which described their conquests. He wrote this book in Cusco, the Inca capital, just 40 years after the first Spaniards arrived. His important position allowed him to talk to Spanish officials and influential native people. He also spoke with those who had seen the Inca Empire fall.

Sarmiento traveled widely, interviewing many local leaders, Inca royal family members, and Spanish conquerors. After he finished the first draft, he did something amazing. He had his book read, chapter by chapter, to 42 important native leaders. They gave their comments and corrections. This public reading happened in February and March of 1572. The book was then sent to King Philip II of Spain in Spain, along with paintings and other Inca items. But, because of unusual events, this important history was forgotten for centuries.

Exploring the Strait of Magellan

In 1578, Sarmiento became the commander of the naval base in the Pacific. This happened when Sir Francis Drake attacked the coasts of Peru and Mexico. In 1579, Sarmiento de Gamboa sailed from the port of Callao with eleven ships to try and catch Drake.

He didn't find Drake, who had sailed west across the Pacific Ocean. But Sarmiento explored the southern Pacific Coast of South America. He then sailed through the Strait of Magellan from west to east for the second time. He drew valuable maps of many parts of the Strait. After an impressive journey across the Atlantic Ocean, he reached Spain in late 1580.

When he told King Philip II about his trip, the King decided to build forts in the Strait. In 1581, the King sent an expedition of 24 ships and 2,500 men from Cadiz. Sarmiento de Gamboa and Diego Flores Valdez led this group. A storm caused them to lose eight ships. Flores, who was jealous of Sarmiento, left him with only 12 ships at the entrance of the Strait and went back to Spain.

With just four ships, Sarmiento de Gamboa continued his journey. In January 1583, he found a good spot. There, he built a fort and a colony with 300 men, which he named Rey Don Felipe. This settlement failed soon after he left. When Thomas Cavendish visited the ruins in 1587, he renamed the place Port Famine.

Capture and Later Years

In 1584, Sarmiento de Gamboa sailed for Europe. But an English fleet, led by Sir Walter Raleigh, captured him. He was taken to England and met Queen Elizabeth I. They spoke in Latin, as it was the only language they both knew. Even though Spain usually kept all its sailing information secret, Sarmiento shared his maps with British mapmakers.

Queen Elizabeth gave him a "Letter of Peace" to deliver to King Philip II of Spain. However, on his way back to Spain, French Huguenots captured him. He was held prisoner until 1588. During this time, Spain prepared the Spanish Armada and attacked the English fleet. If Queen Elizabeth's "Letter of Peace" had reached Spain in time, the war might not have happened.

Meanwhile, his colony in the Strait of Magellan slowly died from starvation. One survivor was rescued by Cavendish's fleet in 1587, and another by Meriche in 1589. After he was freed, Sarmiento de Gamboa told King Philip II about his experiences and complained about Flores. It seems his complaint was not acted upon.

Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa spent the rest of his life writing. He also worked as an editor of poetry. On his last naval mission for the king, he was made Admiral of a fleet of ships heading to the Indies. He died on board his ship, near the coast of Lisbon.

Legacy and Remembrance

Because of his many challenges, Sarmiento became known for having bad luck. People would sometimes say, "So and so has the luck of Pedro de Sarmiento."

Sarmiento de Gamboa is remembered in the scientific name of a type of South American lizard, Liolaemus sarmientoi.

A Spanish research ship, , also carries his name.

See also

In Spanish: Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa para niños