Fort Caroline

https://www.nps.gov/timu/learn/historyculture/foca.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Caroline Fort Caroline was an attempted French colonial settlement in Florida, located on the banks of the St. Johns River in present-day Duval County. It was established under the leadership of René Goulaine de Laudonnière on June 22, 1564, as a new territorial claim in French Florida and a safe haven for Huguenots. The French colony came into conflict with the Spanish, who established St. Augustine in September 1565, and Fort Caroline was sacked by Spanish troops under Pedro Menéndez de Avilés on September 20. The Spanish continued to occupy the site as San Mateo until 1569. The exact location where the fort once stood is unknown. In 1953 the National Park Service established the Fort Caroline National Memorial along the southern bank of the St. John's River near the point that commemorates Laudonnière's first landing. From Downtown Jacksonville, take Union Street to the Mathews Bridge to the Arlington Expressway to the flyover exit for the Southside Connector. Take the connector to Merrill Road and turn right. Merrill Road becomes Fort Caroline Road in approximately 1/2 mile. Continue on Fort Caroline Road, passing through the stoplight at the intersection of Fort Caroline Road and Monument Road. The next left turn is signed for Fort Caroline National Memorial. Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center Fort Caroline is the home to the Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center From Downtown Jacksonville, take Union Street to the Mathews Bridge to the Arlington Expressway to the flyover exit for the Southside Connector. Take the connector to Merrill Road and turn right. Merrill Road becomes Fort Caroline Road in approximately 1/2 mile. Continue on Fort Caroline Road, passing through the stoplight at the intersection of Fort Caroline Road and Monument Road. The next left turn is signed for Fort Caroline National Memorial. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Fort Caroline National Memorial, Florida Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. sand trail and plant communities Freedom Seekers of Timucuan Preserve Discover the stories of courage, mystery, drama, tragedy, and hope contained in the history of Timucuan Preserves freedom seekers. two story tabby ruins in forest Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park Service To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.

Fort Caroline National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior National Memorial Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Florida France in North America Fort de la Caroline protected the first planned French settlement in what is now the United States. Above: the French royal coat of arms. Engraving of the fort is by Theodore de Bry, after an illustration by Jacques le Moyne. I n the mid-1500s a vigorous, expansionist France was emerging from feudalism and dreaming of empire. Spain, the world's leading power, already had a foothold in the Americas, and France wanted to share Spain's riches gained by trade and plunder. France's first attempt at a permanent claim in North America was La Caroline, a settlement near the mouth of the St. Johns River in Florida. The settlement was a commercial venture at first, but religious conflict in France enlarged its goals. Growing persecution of French Protestants (Huguenots) led their most powerful member, Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, to propose to the crown that the colony also be a refuge for Huguenots. An exploratory expedition commanded by Jean Ribault left France in February 1562. After erecting a monument at the River of May (now St. Johns River), Ribault went northward, left a small garrison at Charlesfort near Port Royal Sound, and sailed home. Within months his men's situation became desperate and they returned to France. tune—some to be captured by the Spanish, revealing the French colony's presence. Remaining colonists, discovering no silver or gold, were set to quit Florida in August 1565, when Ribault arrived with a relief expedition of supplies and 600 soldiers and settlers, including more women and some children. Learning that Ribault had left for Florida, Philip II of Spain sent Admiral Pedro Menendez to dislodge the French. Initially rebuffed off the coast, Menendez set up a base to the south at San Augustfn. Ribault sailed down the coast to attack the Spanish, but a hurricane scattered his ships and he beached far to the south. Seizing the opportunity, Menendez marched north with 500 soldiers to attack the weakly guarded colony. In early morning, September 20, his troops massacred 140 settlers, sparing only about 60 women and children. Forty to 50 others, including Laudonniere, escaped and sailed for France. Menendez next marched south and found the shipwrecked Frenchmen, Ribault among them. They threw themselves on his mercy, but to Menendez they were heretics and enemies of his king. At a place later to be named Matanzas (slaughter) he killed about 350 men—all but those professing to be Catholics and a few musicians. Coligny urged another attempt in April 1564, planning a permanent settlement of 200 soldiers and artisans, and a few women. Led by Rene de Goulaine de Laudonniere, who was with Ribault on his previous expedition, the colonists first touched at the River of May on June 22. Helped by Indians, they The French exacted their revenge in April With Indian allies Dominique de Gourgues recapbegan building a village and fort on the riv1568, when Dominique de Gourgues attured Fort de la Caroline—called San Mateo by the er's south bank, naming the area La Caroline tacked and burned the fort, killing all who Spanish—in 1568. (land of Charles) after their king, Charles IX. did not escape, and then sailed home. Spain Relations with the Indians soon soured and by spring 1565 the colo rebuilt the fort, only to abandon it in 1569. France, however, never nists faced starvation. Mutinous parties sailed off to seek their foragain would strongly challenge Spanish claims in North America. Sea Lanes of Settlement and Conflict In Florida both France and Spain hoped t o claim their piece of the "new w o r l d . " By the time the French planted a settlement at La Caroline, Spain was entrenched in South and Central America and its sea routes through the Caribbean were well established (see map). Spanish ships bearing gold and silver from mines in Mexico and Peru stopped at Havana before sailing for Spain. They rode the Gulf Stream through the Bahama Channel (now the Straits of Florida) and up North America's southeast coast. Spain feared a French settlement because its treasure ships, although following Florida's coast, could be easy prey for French raiders in their nearby haven at La Caroline. p o s d | "i o o o I Charles IX (1550-74) became king of France at age 10. His mother Catherine de Medici and Admiral Coligny counseled the king to license Ribault's North American voyage. d Jean Ribault (ca. 152065), chosen by Admiral Coligny to explore Florida, brought reinforcements to Fort de la Caroline in 1565 and died in its defense. •3 5 p 5 O \ Gaspard de Coligny (1516-72), Admiral of France and prominent Huguenot, was supported by Catherine de Medici in his plan to colonize New France with Huguenots. 1 Rene de Laudonniere (ca. 1529-74) commanded Fort de la Caroline. He survived the Spanish massacre of the French, and later wrote his L'H