Ulrich Schmidl facts for kids
Ulrich Schmidl (1510–1579) was a German soldier, explorer, and writer. He was also a councilman in his hometown. Schmidl was one of the few soldiers of his time who wrote down their amazing adventures. His detailed writings tell us a lot about his travels in South America.
Contents
Early Life and Adventures
Ulrich Schmidl was born in Straubing, Germany, in 1510. His father was a rich merchant, so Ulrich received a good education. In 1534, he joined the military as a Landsknecht. This was a type of German mercenary soldier.
Schmidl joined an expedition to South America led by Pedro de Mendoza. They sailed to the Río de la Plata, which is in modern-day Argentina. He helped found the city of Buenos Aires.
Exploring South America
Schmidl explored deep into the continent. He traveled along the Paraná River and the Paraguay River. He helped establish the city of Asunción in what is now Paraguay. From there, he went on several trips into the Gran Chaco region. These journeys took him into parts of southeast Bolivia.
He was part of many important events. For example, he supported Domingo Irala when he became governor. Schmidl also joined Irala on a trip to Peru, reaching the Andes mountains.
Writing His Story
In 1552, Schmidl learned that his older brother had died. He decided to return home to inherit his brother's wealth. He arrived back in Straubing in 1554.
During his 19 years in South America, Schmidl kept a detailed diary. He used this diary to write a book about his adventures. The book was called Wahre Geschichte einer merkwürdigen Reise (True Story of a Remarkable Journey). It was published in 1557. A Latin version, Vera historia, came out in 1599.
Why His Book Is Important
Schmidl's book is very important. It was one of the first detailed accounts of the Río de la Plata region. Because of his writings, Ulrich Schmidl is often called the first historian of Argentina.
His book describes many Native American groups. He wrote about their names, habits, and how they lived. Many of these groups were no longer around a century later. This makes his book a valuable record of history.
Another explorer, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, also wrote about this region. He was a Spanish nobleman. Schmidl's account, written by a German soldier, offers a different view from Cabeza de Vaca's.
Later Life
After returning to Straubing, Ulrich Schmidl inherited his brother's fortune. He became a councilman in his hometown. However, due to disagreements over religion, he had to leave Straubing. In 1562, he moved to Regensburg, where he passed away around 1579.
See also
In Spanish: Ulrico Schmidl para niños
