A brief history of the rise and fall of port royal jamaica and its impact on english colonial maritime commerce. Port royal rums are produced from sugar cane supplies from the worldrenowned distilleries in monymusk and long pond, jamaica. Port royal is a village located at the end of the palisadoes at the mouth of kingston harbour, in southeastern jamaica. Port royal rums, jamaica rum manufacturer jamaica krb. May 01, 2002 whether researching for an historical book, a fictional story, movie, documentary, or developing a reenacted persona, if you have any interest in the history of port royal, or of jamaica in general, i can not recommend this book enough. Port royal jamaica the wickedest city on earth youtube.
Port royal jamaica became the most important english city in the new world, rivalled only by boston. They each know loads about the history of all of port royal not just the history of fort charles and are willing to share not just their knowledge, but also their memories of growing up in port royal. Giddy house this lopsided building is called the giddy house. On this day in 1692, a massive earthquake devastates the infamous town of port royal in jamaica, killing thousands. The underwater city of port royal unesco world heritage. Port royal was the center of shipping and commerce in jamaica until an earthquake on june 7, 1692 largely destroyed it, causing two thirds of the city to sink into the caribbean sea. History port royal was once called the richest and wickedest city in the world. Port royal historic caribbean harbour one of the most iconic harbours in the caribbean port royal on the south coast of jamaica near kingston is a historic site that includes a sunken city dating back to 1692. Jamaicas wickedest city port royal banks on heritage. Port royal was further devastated by a fire in 1703 and a hurricane in 1722. The underwater pirate city of port royal ancient origins. In addition, the probate inventories of many of port royal inhabitants reveal much prosperity and the observation that, unlike the other english colonies, jamaica used coins for currency instead of commodity exchange.
It was built in the late 165060 and was originally called fort cromwell but was renamed fort charles. On june 7, 1692, port royal, jamaica, experienced a powerful earthquake and a tsunami. On the morning of june 7th, 1692, a massive earthquake hit jamaica. It was destroyed by an earthquake on 7 june 1692, which had an accompanying tsunami. The spaniards knew that the location of port royal was key, so they held on to it until the. By 1690, port royal was as large and important a town as boston, and many of the local merchants were quite wealthy. Many of the tourists viewed the historic sites in port royal, including the st. The town was founded on a natural harbour at the end of a 10mile 16km sand spit between what is now kingston harbour and the caribbean sea. When only a sand spit, it was first used by the tainos as a fishing camp.
The first fort to be erected in port royal was fort charles. An estimated 2000 port royalists were killed immediately in the disaster. Both are jamaica national heritage trust tour guides at fort charles and both live in. Jun 10, 2014 one of the settings of the film is port royal, jamaica.
The town of port royal in jamaica, a location steeped in history, marked another historic milestone when the marella discovery 2 cruise ship was the first such ship to make a call there. Hmjs cagway a former royal navy station, now the headquarters of the jamaica defence coast guard. Port royal, jamaica, commonly referred to as the wickedest city on earth. Once known as the wickedest city on earth, it remains underwater and mostly untouched, after sinking in. When the spaniards arrived in jamaica, they used the spit for cleaning, refitting and caulking of their sailing vessels. Sunken pirate city at port royal port royal, jamaica. Its heyday may have been more than 300 years ago, but port royals history dates back to the islands earliest inhabitants, the tainos. Fort rupert plaque in the 17th century, this fort guarded the eastern entrance to port royal, via palisadoes spit. On 7 june 1692, a violent earthquake struck port royal.
The history of jamaicas wickedest, sunken pirate city. Jamaicas history has been poetically composed by howard pyle, who states. The port royal marine laboratory prml, established in 1955, is a facility of the university of the west indies, mona, jamaica. Nov 29, 2016 best documentary history of port royal underwater cities port royal is a city located at the end of the palisadoes at the mouth of the kingston harbour, in southeastern jamaica. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Larger houses collapsed almost immediately and smaller ones slid off the land into the harbor as a widespread state of liquefaction dislocated their sandy foundations. The town was founded on a natural harbour at the end of a 10mile 16km sand spit between what is now kingston harbour and the.
Jamaicas wickedest city port royal banks on heritage bbc. The 1692 jamaica earthquake struck port royal, jamaica on 7 june. Port royal kingston 2020 all you need to know before. Across from morgans harbour, to the east of the port royal allage school, is a plaque marking the spot where fort rupert once stood. The fort underwent several changes between 1656 1670.
Port royal s role was taken over by the city of kingston. The first cities in history ancient history documentary duration. Founded in 1494 by the spanish, it was once the largest city in the caribbean, functioning as the centre of shipping and commerce in the caribbean sea by the latter half of the 17th century. This fort, one of six located in port royal, served to guard the entrance to the kingston harbour. Many of the buildings where the 6,500 residents lived and worked were constructed. It was initially colonized by the spanish but was attacked and captured by the english in. Here we explore the real facts behind the pirates of ancient port of jamaica.
When charles leslie wrote his history of jamaica, he included a description of the pirates of port royal. The history of jamaica jamaica information service. We know from the evidence that the tainos used it as a fishing port, says dorrick gray from the jamaica national heritage trust. In 1688, 2 ships visited port royal, while 226 ships made port in all of new england. Port royal s underwater city has been the subject of many studies. May 30, 2019 because it was a roughandtumble outpost, port royal had a loose attitude towards religions, and soon was home to anglicans, jews, quakers, puritans, presbyterians, and catholics. Arguably the wealthiest city in the british colonies of the new world, port royal, jamaica, was an important center of the maritime slave trade. The streets of port royal are all named in the tradition and theme of those days gone by. It was nestled behind a strip of land that provided a natural cove and an excellent defensive position on which was later built a fort. Port royal, jamaica, commonly referred to as the wickedest city on earth conjures images of marauding pirates, daring naval conquests, looting, riches, destruction and devastation. Port royal, historic harbour town on the southern coast of jamaica, once the busiest trading centre of the british west indies and infamous. A brief history of the rise and fall of port royal jamaica. During the late 17th century, boston, massachusetts, and port royal, jamaica, were the two largest english towns in the americas.
The history of the famous pirate city of port royal, jamaica. Interesting facts about port royal jamaica otherwise called sin city. Jan 31, 2020 port royal is a village located at the end of the palisadoes at the mouth of kingston harbour, in southeastern jamaica. Much later, when jamaica was claimed by the spanish, port royal was used as a harbour, but drastic change came in the 1650s after the british captured it from the spanish, mr gray says. The name port royal was conceived after the infamous 17th century jamaican city where privateers and smugglers spent their spoils from the looting of ships in the caribbean. As the one of the largest cities in 17th and 18th centuries, in the caribbean colonies, with excellent geographic position, the city of port royal had large influence. Jul 25, 2012 jamaica is hoping to gain special status for the spectacular ruins of port royal. Because it was a roughandtumble outpost, port royal had a loose attitude towards religions, and soon was home to anglicans, jews, quakers, puritans, presbyterians, and catholics. All the wharves sunk at once, and in the space of two minutes, ninetenths of the city were covered with water, which was raised to such a height, that it entered the uppermost rooms of the few. Port royal and the real pirates of the caribbean ancient. Because of its excellent natural harbor and critical position, port royal quickly became a significant haven for pirates and buccaneers, who were made welcome because of the need for defenders. Port royal was located in what is now kingston harbor in jamaica. In 1667, the fort had 36 guns and by 1765 it had 104 guns and a garrison with 500 men.
While it is unclear whether the taino settled in that area or not, it is known that they used port royal during their fishing expeditions. During that time, port royal was called caguay or caguaya. It grew to become one of the most prosperous and populated settlements in the british west indies under the defense of the brethren of the coast and was one of the staging grounds for buccaneer assaults against the spanish. It soon became the mercantile center of the caribbean area, with vast amounts of goods flowing in and out of the port through an expansive trade network. Port royal marine lab department of life sciences the.
Unfortunately, the glory of port royal was shortlived. Jamaica is hoping to gain special status for the spectacular ruins of port royal. It boats an intriguing and turbulent history as it rapidly grew to become the most important trading post in the new world. Sunken pirate city at port royal port royal, jamaica atlas obscura. Twothirds of the town sank into the sea immediately after the main shock. The history of jamaica is a rich and vibrant one, which inspires us to move forward as a nation. As the area commanded a large and wellprotected harbour, along with deep water close to shore, port royal soon became an important trading centre in the caribbean, and it was not long before it was the busiest and wealthiest port in the west indies. Best documentary history of port royal underwater cities. It was founded in 1518 by the spanish, though natives had been using the spot long before that. Damaged, it was reconstructed in 1699 by colonel christian lilly, chief engineer of jamaica. Port royal is a city located at the end of the palisadoes at the mouth of the kingston harbour, in southeastern jamaica. Jamaica national heritage trust jamaica port royal.
Under the buccaneers leadership the town, within a decade and a half, grew to become known as one of the wealthiest and wickedest city in the world. British ships are thought to have transported more individuals into bondage during this century than in any other period in the history of human existence. A stopped pocket watch found in the harbour in 1959 indicated that it occurred around 11. On june 7, 1692, port royal, jamaica, the piratehaven that had been hailed the wickedest city on earth, was engulfed in a tidal wave. Port royal was the center of shipping commerce in jamaica in the 17th century. After 1670, the importance of port royal and jamaica to england was increasingly due to trade in slaves, sugar, and raw materials. Jamaicas wickedest city port royal banks on heritage bbc news. Port royal jamaica britannica encyclopedia britannica. We know from the evidence that the tainos used it as a. On june 7, 1692, a devastating earthquake hit port royal causing most of its northern section to fall into the sea. But on that fateful june day, the very earth beneath the sin city began to shake. Whether researching for an historical book, a fictional story, movie, documentary, or developing a reenacted persona, if you have any interest in the history of port royal, or of jamaica in general, i can not recommend this book enough.
According to robert renny in his an history of jamaica 1807. Known as the storehouse and treasury of the west indies, and as one of the wickedest places on earth, it was, at the time, the unofficial capital of jamaica, one of the busiest and wealthiest ports in the west indies, and a common home port for. While the present jamaican capital, kingston, was little more than farmland, port royal became one of the richest places on earth. Port royal prior to this time was an insignificant town in jamaica. During this time, it gained a reputation as not only the richest, but also the wickedest city in the world. It was the only one of port royal s forts to survive the 1692 earthquake.
Discover sunken pirate city at port royal in port royal, jamaica. Port royal joins montego bay, falmouth, ocho rios and port antonio, and it is anticipated this fiveport array will further enhance the cruise jamaica brand. Capture the history, spirit and romance of the island of jamaica with port royal rums, a distinguished line of high quality rums suited to your individual taste and lifestyle. Nature took her revenge on the wickedest city in the world. Names like gin lane, rum row, galleon drive and buccaneers roost. A letter from a citizen of port royal in jamaica, to a citizen of new york. The strong tremors, soil liquefaction and a tsunami brought on by the earthquake. The port authority of jamaica said it built a cruise facility in port royal to fulfill three main objectives creating economic and social benefits in collaboration with other. The history of port royal jamaica pre 1692 port royal jamaica was discovered in 1518 and because of its position, quickly became the shipping central of the caribbean. Fort charles port royal 2020 all you need to know before.
Port royal museum of american history historic port royal. One of the most famous and successful privateers at port royal was henry morgan, who eventually became the lieutenant governor of jamaica. Map of jamaica, including a detail of port royal the island of jamaica is situated 90 miles south of cuba. It was a popular place for pirates and privateers from as far away as madagascar on the far side of africa who brought and spent their treasure in a.
There was a tolerance for various religions that was unusual in 17th century english colonies jews, anglicans, quakers, presbyterians all had a presence in the city. Founded in 1518 by the spanish, it was once the largest city in the caribbean, functioning as the centre of shipping and commerce in the caribbean sea by the latter half of the 17th century. The tremors rocked the sandy peninsula on which the town was built, causing buildings to slide and disappear beneath the sea. Both are jamaica national heritage trust tour guides at fort charles and both live in the town nearby. Port royal was built on a small island off the coast of jamaica in the harbor across from presentday kingston. Peters anglican church, the giddy house at fort charles as well as the cannons on the property of what is said to be the oldest fort in jamaica. In the 17th century, port royal was the headquarters of the numerous swashbuckling scoundrels that plundered the high seas. The marine laboratory and biodiversity centre is currently visited by over 5,000 people a year for teaching, research and outreach purposes. Port royals glory days soon came to an end when a massive earthquake and tsunami struck in 1692.
It was initially colonized by the spanish but was attacked and captured by the english in 1655. It was a city so overrun with liquor, slavers, and prostitution that one in every four buildings was either a bar or a brothel. Most archaeologists who work with historic sites in the united states are familiar with the archaeological work carried out in new england, but relatively few are familiar with port royal and its role in the history of the 17thcentury english colonies. The marella discovery 2 was the lead vessel of the vision class of cruise ships that was originally operated by royal. The combined disasters killed approximately 3000 people. Its heyday may have been more than 300 years ago, but port royal s history dates back to the islands earliest inhabitants, the tainos. Capture the history, spirit and romance of jamaica with port royal rums, a distinguished line of highquality rums suited to your individual taste and lifestyle. Jamaica port royal jamaica national heritage trust.
An additional treasure trove of american history has assembled and is on display in historic port royal. The port royal earthquake was one of the worst natural disasters of all time in terms of human impact and completely destroyed entire sections of the town causing it to fall into the sea. It is the third largest island in the caribbean and covers an area of 4411 square miles, with mountains running east to west through its middle. Port royal in jamaica was once known as the wickedest city on earth. The spanish colonisation of jamaica brought this area under spanish.
The port authority of jamaica said it built a cruise facility in port royal to fulfill three main objectives creating economic and social benefits in collaboration with other government of jamaica agencies, enhancing the historical assets of port royal for the benefit of jamaicans and visitors and providing a gateway to the cultural capital. Port royal is a town on the southern coast of jamaica. It boats an intriguing and turbulent history as it rapidly grew to. It boasted over 22 guns, but sank during the 1692 earthquake. Our history speaks to experiences of hardships and prosperity. After a series of natural disasters, the lost city is now. Port royal, historic harbour town on the southern coast of jamaica, once the busiest trading centre of the british west indies and infamous for general debauchery. In 2018, port royal is to be made accessible to cruise ships for the first time. Port royal had a population of around 6,500 people before the earthquake. The underwater city of port royal unesco world heritage centre.
Port royal was first occupied by the taino indians. Currently, the peninsula is one continuous strip although at various times throughout its history, the tip on which port royal stands was a cay completely surrounded by water. It was the only one of port royals forts to survive the 1692 earthquake. Of the more famous pirates to be associated with port royal are sir henry morgan, calico jack and blackbeard teach.