Charlesbourg-Royal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Charlesbourg Royal |
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Drawing of Charlesbourg Royal (1542)
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| Etymology | Named after Charles II, Duke of Orleans |
| Location | Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
| Area | 1 hectare (2.5 acres) |
| Built | Summer 1541 |
| Abandoned | September 1543 |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
| Official name: Fort Charlesbourg Royal | |
| Designated | 1923-05-25 |
| Reference no. | 16661 |
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Fort Charlesbourg Royal was an early French settlement in North America. It was built by the famous explorer Jacques Cartier in 1541. This fort was France's very first attempt to create a lasting colony in what is now Canada. However, the settlement only lasted for two years. It was located in the Cap-Rouge area, which is part of Quebec City today.
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History of Fort Charlesbourg Royal
Building the First French Colony
In the summer of 1541, Jacques Cartier arrived on his third and final trip to North America. He quickly set up a fort and a small town. About 400 people came to live there. The settlement had two main parts. There was an upper fort built on a high spot, about 40 meters (130 feet) up. This gave them a good view and made it easier to defend.
There was also a lower fort closer to the water. This part was near where the Rivière du Cap Rouge meets the Saint Lawrence River. It was a good place for ships to anchor safely. Both forts had three towers to help protect them. The fort was named Charlesbourg Royal after Charles II, Duke of Orleans. He was the third son of the French King Francis I of France.
Why the Colony Failed
Life at Fort Charlesbourg Royal was very hard. During their first winter, 35 of Cartier's men died. They faced harsh weather conditions, which were very cold and difficult. Many also suffered from a sickness called scurvy. Scurvy is caused by not getting enough vitamin C.
The settlers also faced attacks from local Indigenous people. These were the St. Lawrence Iroquoians from places like Stadacona. Because of these challenges, the fort was abandoned in September 1543. France would not try to build another successful colony in the area until 1608. That's when the Habitation de Québec was built, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) east of Charlesbourg Royal.
Finding the Lost Fort
For a long time, the exact location of Fort Charlesbourg Royal was a mystery. But in August 2006, archaeologists made an exciting discovery. Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Canadian archaeologists, led by Yves Chretien, announced they had found the lost settlement.
Chretien found clues that helped him identify the spot. He found pieces of a fancy Italian ceramic plate from the 1540s or 1550s. He also found six pieces of wood. These wood samples were tested in a lab in the United States. The tests showed the wood was from the mid-16th century. These discoveries proved they had found the site of Fort Charlesbourg Royal.
