Spanish assault on French Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Action of September 1565 |
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| Part of French colonial conflicts | |||||||
 Image of French settlement in Florida in 1562. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 New Spain |
 Huguenots |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Pedro Menéndez de Avilés Flores de Valdés |
Jean Ribault † René Goulaine de Laudonnière |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 49 ships (including merchant ships) | 33 ships | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 admiral, 700 men | |||||||
The Spanish attack on French Florida was a big event in the 1500s. It was part of Spain's plan to build colonies in the New World (North and South America). Spain wanted to protect its lands from other European countries.
For a long time, France also claimed parts of the New World, especially a region they called La Florida. French leaders, including the Huguenots (French Protestants), wanted to send settlers to Florida. They hoped this would help with religious problems in France. They also wanted to find valuable things like silver and gold, just like Spain had done in Mexico.
In 1562, a French explorer named Jean Ribault tried to start a colony at Charlesfort. Later, in 1564, René Goulaine de Laudonnière built Fort Caroline on the St. Johns River in Florida.
Spain believed all of Florida belonged to them. This was based on earlier trips by explorers like Juan Ponce de León and Hernando de Soto. However, Spain had struggled to build a lasting settlement there.
In September 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés arrived and founded St. Augustine. This new Spanish town was about 30 miles south of Fort Caroline. Menéndez did not know the French were already there. When he found out about Fort Caroline, he decided to remove the French, whom he saw as intruders and religious rivals.
Jean Ribault learned about the Spanish nearby. He decided to attack St. Augustine first. He sailed south with most of his soldiers. But a strong storm hit his ships. Many French soldiers were lost at sea. Ribault and hundreds of others were shipwrecked south of St. Augustine.
Meanwhile, Menéndez marched north to Fort Caroline. He surprised the few French defenders left. Most of the French Protestants there were killed. Menéndez renamed the fort Fort Mateo and left Spanish soldiers to guard it. When he returned to St. Augustine, he heard about Ribault's stranded men. Menéndez quickly went south and captured the French force. Most of them were killed on the shore of what became known as the Matanzas River. Only the Catholics among the French were spared.
With Fort Caroline captured and the French forces gone, Spain's claim to Florida became much stronger. This meant Spain controlled a huge area. It stretched from the Pánuco River in the Gulf of Mexico up the Atlantic coast to Chesapeake Bay. This left England and France to find other places for their colonies.
Contents
Fort Caroline and the Spanish Arrival
Jean Ribault first explored the St. Johns River in 1562. He called it la Rivière de Mai (the River of May). Two years later, in 1564, Laudonnière built Fort Caroline. It was on the south side of the St. Johns River, about six miles from its mouth.
Philip II of Spain believed owning Florida was important for Spain's trade. He heard that Ribault was planning another trip to help his French colony. So, Philip II decided to remove the French from Florida. He sent Pedro Menéndez de Avilés with a large force to do this.
Laudonnière's colony at Fort Caroline faced tough times. They were running out of food. An English sailor named Sir John Hawkins helped them by giving them a ship to return to France. But before they could leave, Ribault arrived with new supplies and more soldiers. So, the French decided to stay and repair Fort Caroline.
Menéndez's ships were damaged by a storm. But he finally reached the coast. He found Ribault already there with his fleet. Menéndez then founded St. Augustine (San Agustín) on September 8, 1565.
Ribault had orders to fight the Spanish. He decided to attack Menéndez right away. Laudonnière disagreed, but Ribault insisted. He took almost all the strong men from the fort and ships to attack the Spanish. Laudonnière was left at Fort Caroline with the women, the sick, and only a few men.
Meanwhile, Menéndez and his men built the first Spanish fort in St. Augustine. They worked hard to build earthworks and defenses. Ribault's ships appeared but did not attack. Menéndez knew a big storm was coming. He thought the storm would scatter the French fleet.
Menéndez decided to attack Fort Caroline while Ribault was away. He wanted to take away Ribault's safe place. Guided by local Indians, Menéndez and his men marched through swamps during the storm. Many of his men struggled, but he reached Fort Caroline. The French guards were not expecting an attack in such bad weather.
The Spanish attack was quick and successful. Laudonnière and a few others escaped to a ship in the river. Most of the French soldiers were killed. The Spanish flag was raised over the fort.
Spanish Victory and Aftermath
After taking Fort Caroline, Menéndez heard that Ribault and his men were stranded south of St. Augustine. Menéndez quickly moved to attack them. He met Ribault and his men at Matanzas Inlet.
Menéndez told Ribault that he had captured Fort Caroline and killed the French there. He said he was fighting against anyone who tried to settle in Florida without Spain's permission. He also said he was there to spread the Catholic faith.
Ribault offered a large sum of money to save his men's lives. But Menéndez refused. The French soldiers had to surrender their weapons. They were then taken in groups of ten. Their hands were tied behind their backs. Menéndez ordered his soldiers to kill them. Only a few Catholics were spared. Jean Ribault himself was also killed.
Menéndez believed it was necessary to kill them. He saw Ribault as a dangerous enemy. This event secured Spain's control over Florida.
Later Events
The local Indians, who had been friends with the French, were angry about the Spanish invasion. Their chief, Saturiwa, started a war against the Spanish settlers. The Spanish also faced problems with food shortages.
Laudonnière and his friends who escaped to France told stories about the Spanish cruelty. The French government did not act right away. But a French nobleman named Dominique de Gourgues decided to get revenge. He had been captured by the Spanish before.
In 1568, De Gourgues bought three warships and gathered over 200 men. He sailed to Florida. He tricked the Spanish at Fort San Mateo (the former Fort Caroline) into thinking his ships were friendly. Then, he worked with the local Indians, led by Chief Saturiwa. Together, they attacked and captured the Spanish fort. De Gourgues hanged many of the Spanish soldiers. This was revenge for the French Huguenots killed by Menéndez. De Gourgues then returned to France.
Menéndez was upset when he returned to Florida. But he kept his soldiers in order. He strengthened St. Augustine as the main Spanish settlement. He died in 1574.
Images for kids
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17th century map of French Florida by Pierre du Val
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Colored engraving of a view of French Fort Caroline on the St. Johns River, by Theodore de Bry (1528-98) after a drawing by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues (1533-88)
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Portrait of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, after a painting by Titian
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Pedro Menéndez de Avilés moved his colony to the settlement of the Seloy tribe of the Timucua. Their chief gave them the Great House, a huge circular or oval thatched structure able to hold several hundred people. Around this meeting house the Spanish dug a moat and added fortifications.
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The French flag of the 1500s that flew over Fort Caroline
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Timucua warriors with weapons and tattoo regalia, drawn by Jacques Le Moyne, c. 1562
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Five hundred Spanish soldiers marched four days through marsh, forest tangle, fierce winds, and heavy rainfall to an encampment near Fort Caroline. This is where Menéndez and his men camped, exhausted and weary, the night before the attack on and capture of the fort.
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Sir John Hawkins
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Sabal palmettos grow 70 feet (21 m) to 80 feet (24 m) high, with exceptional individuals up to 92 feet (28 m)
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On September 29, 1565, the orders of Menéndez to kill the Huguenots were executed.
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The massacre of the French Huguenots took place at Matanzas Inlet, which in the 16th century was located several hundred yards north of its present location.
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Map of the northeast coast of present-day Florida showing the locations of Fort Caroline and Matanzas Inlet
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Heaqdboard and coffin of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés at Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine, Florida
