The French in Florida
France was also interested in exploring and colonizing the Americas. The French monarchy wanted to establish a settlement to increase its wealth, look for gold, claim valuable lands, and resettle French Protestants. In 1562, Frenchman Jean Ribault established the settlement of Charlesfort in modern South Carolina, but it was soon abandoned.
Fort Caroline
In 1564, René de Laudonnière founded another settlement and fort near the mouth of the St. Johns River. Several Timucua-speaking groups such as the Utina and Saturiwa initially helped the French colonists. Over time, the settlement, known as Fort Caroline, began to suffer as food stocks dwindled and new provisions failed to arrive from France.
Laudonnière and Athore, 1564
René de Laudonnière is shown with Timucuan chief Athore.
By Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, from the New York Public Library, https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ 510d47d9-7bee-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
Life-cast figure representing Saturiwa
Saturiwa was a powerful Timucuan chief who lived near modern-day Jacksonville. His coastal chiefdom stretched from the mouth of the
St. Johns River to present-day Flagler County. He had thirty lesser chiefs under him, who paid a tribute of corn and other supplies. After the French arrived in 1564, Saturiwa and the new colonists became trading partners. The Timucua provided food, and the French offered beads, scissors, and other European goods in return. When the French ran out of trade goods, the Timucua were not willing to continue supplying food. Saturiwa also became angry when the French made a treaty with a rival tribe. In 1565, the Spaniards destroyed the French settlement and established St. Augustine, which was near Saturiwa’s territory. Historical accounts reveal that he and his Indigenous allies were initially hostile to St. Augustine’s residents. Saturiwa’s name then disappeared from written records.
Fort Caroline
The fort’s capture by Spaniards in 1565 ended the French presence in Florida.
Engraving published by Theodor de Bry in Grand Voyages (1591), after watercolors by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, courtesy of the State Archives of Florida
St. Augustine
Fort Caroline presented a threat to the Spaniards. In 1565, Spanish forces led by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés attacked Fort Caroline and expelled the French from Florida. The Spaniards established St. Augustine, which became the first permanent European settlement in the mainland United States.
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés defeated the French in Florida and established St. Augustine in 1565. One of his goals was to spread Catholicism to the Indigenous people of Florida.
Pedro Menendez de Aviles / Josef Camaron lo dibo.; Franco. de Paula Marti lo grabo ano 1791. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
