FRANCISCO ORELLANA 

Francisco Orellana was a great Spanish explorer who was born in Trujillo, Spain around the start of the 16^th century and who died in Guiana in 1545.  One of the interesting facts about Orellana is that he went to school with Francisco Pizarro, another famous explorer and navigator.  In fact, Orellana followed Pizarro to Peru where together, they were involved in the conquest.  Then in 1537, Orellana was responsible for rebuilding the city of Guayaquil. 

In the expedition of 1539, Orellana commanded the rear guard as the deputy for Gonzalo Pizarro as they searched for El Dorado.  Arriving at the Coca River junction along with the Napo, Orellana was given orders to take 60 men with him to explore the river in a boat and to come back with needed provisions.  Unexpectedly, Orellana and his men were carried down the river and the only villages they discovered were settled by warlike natives.  After searching for days, they finally reached the mouth of Napo at the place where it met the mighty river.  This point he decided to name Orellana. 

Determined to succeed, Orellana and his men were near starvation when they finally reached another village.  After going into battle with the natives, they finally came upon enough provisions to take back with them, as well as a large amount of gold.  Not long after, Orellana and his crew arrived in the possessions of a cacique called Aparia, where they were welcomed with open arms.  Orellana had decided to build a brigantine since the boat they were using was in horrific condition.  Therefore, a forge was constructed using old stirrups and arms nails and in just 35 days, the brigantine was complete. 

Then in the summer, a number of villages were discovered but unfortunately, Orellana and his men were savagely attacked.  His expedition was chronicled in the Carvajal, telling how the natives were controlled and commanded by warlike women and how the entire country was controlled by women who lived by themselves in these communities.  With the publication of this story, the Amazon country became widely known and the river that Orellana had discovered was given the permanent name, “Orellana”. 

Eventually, Orellana headed toward the ocean where he made cordage using snails and grass from the cloaks and blankets.  In addition, he took in provisions and water, as he coasted all the way out to the Gulf of Paria.  Then in September, the expedition entered the Gulf.  The following June, they reached the island of Cubagua, which is known more commonly as Trinidad.  While many of things remain unclear about Orellana, we do know that he was the first European to successfully, navigate the Amazon for the majority of its course.

Orellana then returned to Spain where he provided the king with information about his many discoveries, along with to solicit the government of the river’s territory.  Then in February of 1544, a grant was obtained under the name of Nueva Andalucia.  With that, Orellana left San Lucar in May with four ships and 400 men, as well as the company of his wife.  Unfortunately, while many of Orellana’s expeditions ran smoothly, this particular one was met with a number of problems, which led to many defeats by Indian savages and eventually, Orellana’s death.  After his death, his wife decided to return to Trinidad along with a few of the survivors.  There, she set up permanent residence to live out her life.