Alvaro Mexia
Encyclopedia
Alvaro Mexia was a 17th century Spanish explorer and cartographer of the east coast of Florida
. Mexia was stationed in St Augustine
and was given a diplomatic mission to the native populations living south of St. Augustine and in the Cape Canaveral
area. This mission resulted in a "Period of Friendship" between the Spanish and the Ais
native population.
When Pedro de Ibarra
became the Spanish Governor of Florida, he knew the Spanish needed to improve relations with the natives, so he sent Mexia on a diplomatic mission to gain knowledge of the lands and populations south of St.Augustine.
Mexia wrote about his experiences in the area of the native Ais
in a document known as a Derrotero, a truthful account and description of his journey in the land of Ais. Mexia also created a map in color. His journey completed in 1605, his Derrotero and map were sent to the King of Spain in a letter from Pedro de Ibarra.
His letters and map show native towns and place names south of St. Augustine. These include:
Alvaro returned to St Augustine and made his report to Ibarra on July 11, 1605 more than a month after
his departure. The mission was considered a success as on September 2, 1605 the elusive Capitan Grande (Ais Chief) finally
arrived in St. Augustine accompanied by his mandador, the chiefs of Surruque and Urbia, and twenty Indians. Agreements were
made that the Ais Indians would return shipwrecked sailors to the Spanish for a ransom.
Catalogued as Simancas, La Florida: Descubrimientos, descripciones, y poblaciones de laFlorida. Patronato. Est I; Cat I Leg 1/19; No.29
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Mexia was stationed in St Augustine
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
and was given a diplomatic mission to the native populations living south of St. Augustine and in the Cape Canaveral
Timeline of Cape Canaveral
Timeline of Cape Canaveral events:1564 - John Sparke writes about his landing experiences with Captain John Hawkins1571-12 Pedro Menendez wrecks off the Coast of Cape Canaveral and encounters Ais Indians....
area. This mission resulted in a "Period of Friendship" between the Spanish and the Ais
Ais (tribe)
The Ais, or Ays were a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Atlantic Coast of Florida. They ranged from present day Cape Canaveral to the St. Lucie Inlet, in the present day counties of Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and northernmost Martin...
native population.
When Pedro de Ibarra
Pedro de Ibarra (governor of La Florida)
- Governor of La Florida :Originally from the Basque Country, in 1549 he explored the region in Zamora. In 1603 he was appointed governor of Florida...
became the Spanish Governor of Florida, he knew the Spanish needed to improve relations with the natives, so he sent Mexia on a diplomatic mission to gain knowledge of the lands and populations south of St.Augustine.
Mexia wrote about his experiences in the area of the native Ais
Ais (tribe)
The Ais, or Ays were a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Atlantic Coast of Florida. They ranged from present day Cape Canaveral to the St. Lucie Inlet, in the present day counties of Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and northernmost Martin...
in a document known as a Derrotero, a truthful account and description of his journey in the land of Ais. Mexia also created a map in color. His journey completed in 1605, his Derrotero and map were sent to the King of Spain in a letter from Pedro de Ibarra.
His letters and map show native towns and place names south of St. Augustine. These include:
- Surruque In New Smyrna Beach. Mexia and his party arrived at Surruque on June 6, 1605 and remained in the area for eight days while he waited for orders to proceed to the Ais Indian Nation.
- Nocoroco town - mouth of Tomoka RiverTomoka RiverThe Tomoka River is a north-flowing river in Volusia County, Florida, United States. It drains an area of about and is the longest river in Volusia County , with a length of .- Geography :...
,in Volusia County.
- After leaving NocorocoNocorocoNocoroco is the site of a Timucuan village located on the Tomoka River, in Tomoka State Park. The park is located two or three miles north of Ormond Beach, Florida on North Beach Street.-History:...
Mexia writes about passing by a Buhio A West Indian (Arawak) word for a native hut. It came to be applied to anything from the family dwelling to the large communal lodge which according to Bishop Calderon, would accommodatge 2000 to 3000 people.
- Caparca site - New Smyrna (Volusia County)
- Potopotoyachequeya - Haulover Canal, place where native Americans crossed land with their canoes
- Savo
- Lagoon of Sababoche - present-day Banana RiverBanana RiverThe Banana River is a lagoon that lies between Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is part of the Indian River Lagoon system, and connects at its south end to the Indian River; it is the only part of the lagoon system not in the Intracoastal...
- Lagoon of Savochequueya - present-day Newfound Harbor in Merritt Island, FloridaMerritt Island, FloridaMerritt Island is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is located on the east coast of the state on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the population was 36,090. It is part of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- Lagoon of Ulumay
- Through "Callejon" to Pentoaya, A Distance of .5 league
- Traverse of the Grand Bay of Ais 5 leagues
- Then to small fresh water river 1 league
- Then to the great Indian town of the Ais
Alvaro returned to St Augustine and made his report to Ibarra on July 11, 1605 more than a month after
his departure. The mission was considered a success as on September 2, 1605 the elusive Capitan Grande (Ais Chief) finally
arrived in St. Augustine accompanied by his mandador, the chiefs of Surruque and Urbia, and twenty Indians. Agreements were
made that the Ais Indians would return shipwrecked sailors to the Spanish for a ransom.
Further reading
- Library of Congress Archives: A copy of the Pedro de Ibarra letter referring Alvaro Mexia to the King of Spain is in v. 5, and Lowery's manuscript collections relating to Florida, 1603- 1607, archived in the Manuscript Division.
- Archive copies of Mexia's writings are archived at General Archive of the Indies
Catalogued as Simancas, La Florida: Descubrimientos, descripciones, y poblaciones de laFlorida. Patronato. Est I; Cat I Leg 1/19; No.29
- Duplicate: Simancas, Seculares, Audencia de Santo Domingo: Cartas y expedientes de gobernadores de la Florida vistos en el Consejo desde 1568 a Est 54: Caj. 5 Leg 9.
- NocorocoNocorocoNocoroco is the site of a Timucuan village located on the Tomoka River, in Tomoka State Park. The park is located two or three miles north of Ormond Beach, Florida on North Beach Street.-History:...
mentions Alvaro Mexia
External links
- General Archive of the Indies in SevilleSevilleSeville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, Spain - Mexia's map of Florida in: