The history of the Jolliet-Marquette expedition of 1673 -- and the purported "discovery" of the Mississippi River -- as the story now stands, is historical deceit.
Jacques Marquette (1637-1675) was a Jesuit missionary. Several years after he died, his name was used by his superiors to make false claims of discovery for the Jesuits, while at the same time diminishing the historic role of LaSalle.
In 1681, a written document was published, a narrative pretending to be Marquette's. It was a first person account of a 1673 expedition of discovery. A map accompanied this 1681 first person narrative. Subsequent to the publication, Marquette's name was lastingly entwined with a 1673 expedition.
Even though defenders of Marquette's place in history make unsupportable claims to the contrary, Marquette's name was never associated with an expedition of discovery until the publication of the false "Marquette Narrative" in 1681. This printed account gained wide circulation, and its authenticity went unquestioned.
Interest in French activities in 17th century North America fell into abeyance until aroused in the opening decades of the 19th century. The continental interior was being populated. States were being formed and integrated into the Union. The Jesuit order, which was unwelcome in Canada for nearly a century before 1842, was allowed to resume its activities in that year.
In 1844 certain Jesuit papers, for decades resting in the care of nuns at a hospital in Quebec, surfaced into the hands of the reactivated Jesuit order.
It was claimed by the Jesuits among these papers were three critically significant Marquette documents. These included the (1) map under discussion here, a (2) manuscript said to be the more complete "real" Marquette narrative, the prototype for the 1681 publication, and a (3) journal of a Marquette second voyage.
These three documents are not authentic. They were forged, the purpose of which was to further enhance the reputation of the Jesuits following their permitted return to Canada after their long absence.
Nonetheless, these documents, particularly the map, continue to be the basis of our current accepted history regarding Marquette.
The Illinois River is too accurately drawn to be on a map of 1673-74. Countless of maps can be presented to show this. The credit for first mapping the interior belongs to La Salle, not Marquette.
This thesis is today scathingly attacked by Jesuit apologists, defenders of the Marquette pre-eminence of discovery. However, there is one basic question. Was it possible for Marquette to have accurately set down the contour of the Illinois river in 1673-74 ? Whereas no other map maker depicts it accurately until 1813?
Prima facie the authenticity must be rejected. Furthermore, Marquette is not known to have been schooled in map making, and there is no authentic map of Marquette's known to exist.
Can Marquette be defended as the legitimate author with the argument, "all the other map makers until 1813 just got the shape of the Illinois River wrong."?
The Marquette Autograph map was forged in the mid-1800s, along with two other documents. The purpose of these forgeries was to enhance the reputation of the 17th century Jesuits in North America. In the mid-1800s, millions of Catholic immigrants were populating the heartland of America. It appears that the Jesuits, in competition with the other Catholic orders for the allegiance of the Catholic immigrants, believed that the end justifies the means.
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On the Word "Chicago," Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Summer 2004
Newberry Library, Chicago Map Society Presentation,September 2005, "Marquette Myths"
Professor debunks Marquette, Joliet discovery of river
Canadian historic treasure may be a hoax
Maphistory
The Map Room
The Jacques Marquette Map Hoax Presented at the Conference on Illinois History Springfield, Illinois, October 12, 2006
The DuPage Name, An idea on the placename "DuPage"
The Ellington Stone An unexplained artifact from 1671
Some interesting links that will in the future be analyzed and discussed.
Canadiensis
Manitoumie
Minet map 1683
Corrupt Translation
Manitoumie Map
Thèvenot Map French
Joutel 1713, p. 389
Franquelin map 1684
Lake Superior Map
Boucherville Parish Registry
Ayer 48 Gallinee
Manitoumie Canadiensis |
