Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira

Lore & Background

Álvaro de Mendaña y Neira was born on 1 October 1542 in Congosto, in El Bierzo Region (León). He was the nephew of Lope García de Castro, viceroy of Peru. In 1567, command of an expedition to find land in the Pacific was given to Mendaña, despite the bitter disappointment of Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, who had proposed the voyage. Mendaña's priority was conversion of 'the heathen' to Christianity, while Sarmiento sought riches. The two ships sailed from Callao, Peru on 20 November 1567, sighting Santa Isabel Island on 7 February 1568, which became part of the Solomon Islands. The expedition encountered cannibalism among the islanders and, after building a small brigantine, explored Malaita, Guadalcanal, Makira, and Choiseul Island. On 7 August 1568, a council decided to return to Peru, reaching the Mexican coast in late January 1569.

Reader's Guide

Mendaña's first voyage resulted in the European discovery of the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, and provided valuable sailing experience for Spain in crossing the South Pacific. These discoveries inspired successive expeditions in search of Terra Australis, both by Mendaña himself and by Pedro Fernandes de Queirós. However, the Great South Land was not discovered, and the islands revealed few indications of gold, no spices, and no conversions to Christianity, though one abducted family became devout Christians in Peru. Mendaña's second voyage, departing Callao on 9 April 1595 with four ships and 378 people, aimed to establish a colony in the Solomons. It reached the Marquesas Islands on 21 July, where conflict led to an estimated 200 Marquesans killed. The expedition arrived at Nendo (Santa Cruz) on 8 September, but internal divisions, sickness, and violence—including the murder of camp master Manrique and local chief Malope—led to collapse. Mendaña died on 18 October 1595. His wife Isabel Barreto became governor, and the settlement was abandoned on 18 November. Queirós brought the surviving ship to Manila on 11 February 1596; of 378 who sailed, about 100 survived. Mendaña's legacy lies in his pioneering Pacific crossings and the foundation for later exploration.

Did You Know?

• Mendaña's first expedition discovered the Solomon Islands, which were named Islas Salomon upon return.
• During the first voyage, islanders offered Mendaña 'a quarter of a boy with the arm and hand,' revealing cannibalism.
• Mendaña died on 18 October 1595 during the second expedition, leaving his wife Isabel Barreto as heir and governor.
• The Island of St Francis seen on the return of the first voyage was probably Wake Island; attempts to relocate it led James Cook to first reach the Hawaiian Islands.