The misunderstood mission of Jean Nicolet : uncovering the story of the 1634 journey

For years, schoolchildren heard the story of Jean Nicolet's arrival in Wisconsin. But the popularized image of the hapless explorer landing with billowing robe and guns blazing, supposedly believing himself to have found a passage to China, is based on scant evidence—a false narrative perpetuated by fanciful artists' renditions and repetition. In more recent decades, historians have pieced together a story that is not only more likely but more complicated and interesting. Patrick Jung synthesizes the research about Nicolet and his superior Samuel de Champlain, whose diplomatic goals in the region are crucial to understanding this much misunderstood journey across the Great Lakes. Additionally, historical details about Franco-Indian relations and the search for the Northwest Passage provide a framework for understanding Nicolet's famed mission. "While it is common knowledge that Jean Nicolet was the first European to visit Wisconsin in 1634, the general public is usually surprised to learn that this story is based upon a mere four pages of text. Due to this paucity of evidence, historians for the last 150 years have written often grossly inaccurate descriptions of Nicolet's westward voyage. Over the past few decades, many of these factual missteps and errors have been corrected, and thus, we now have a much clearer understanding of Nicolet and his mission to the Puans (also known as the Ho-Chunk Indians). Nevertheless, much misinformation remains uncorrected. This book synthesizes the most recent research about Nicolet and his superior, Samuel de Champlain, because understanding Champlain's career is crucial to an accurate interpretation of Nicolet's journey. Recent archaeological research also reveals significant details about the Puan Indians whom Nicolet visited, and the search for the Northwest Passage provides a framework that places Nicolet's story within a transnational context."--Provided by publisher Contents Introduction 1 The Search for the Northwest Passage 1524–1602 2 Champlain, Explorer of New France 1603–1616 3 Champlain, Commander of New France 1616–1634 4 Nicolet Journeys Westward 1634 5 Nicolet, New France, and the Puans After 1634 Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index