What everyone agrees on is that she went.

And that what happened on the voyage changed everything.

The Expedition: Three Ships Into The Atlantic

On April 16, 1542, Roberval departed from La Rochelle, France, with three ships: the Valentine, the Anne, and the Léchefraye.

This was not a small or modest operation.

The expedition carried several hundred colonists — men and women — along with livestock, equipment, and the provisions necessary for establishing a permanent settlement in New France.

It was a royal mission with significant resources behind it, and Roberval’s authority as lieutenant-general gave him broad powers to maintain order and discipline across the entire expedition.