Blavet

We are grateful to the Vicomte and Vicomtesse de Kerdaniel for giving us a place to stay in Brittany, where we also visited the Marine Museum in Blavet/Port Louis, historic sites in Crozon, Quimper, Blavet-Port-Louis.

Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008

In Brittany the war was over, and the young captain from Saintonge found himself “without any charge or employment,” in his own words.2 Champlain was at Blavet, a seaport on the south coast of Brittany.

Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008

“Encore le Brief Discours: Champlain a-t-il été à Blavet en 1598?”

Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008

Governor de la Hottière moved easily across national and religious lines, and held offices of trust in both countries—which made him an ideal candidate for the Blavet mission.12

Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008

For example, he remembered the passage from Blavet to Vigo Bay as lasting eleven days; Spanish records showed that the voyage lasted five days.

Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008

“I went to court,” Champlain later wrote, “having just arrived from the West Indies, where I had been nearly two and a half years, after the Spaniards had left Blavet, and made peace in France.”

Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008

The Treaty of Vervins called for the return of all Spanish troops from French soil, and one of the largest garrisons was at Blavet.

Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008

At Blavet, Saint-Julien took aboard a large number of Spanish soldiers with their artillery.

Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008

Blavet, now Port Louis, aerial photo © Hemis/Alamy

Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008

Don Francisco replaced the garrison at San Juan with four hundred troops, and rearmed the fort with forty-seven bronze cannon that had been in Blavet.

Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008