Pedro Menéndez de Aviles and the Founding Of St. Augustine

Pedro Menéndez de Aviles and the Founding Of St. Augustine
Today I will talk about Pedro Menéndez de Aviles and the Founding Of St. Augustine
From the Book
Colonial American History Stories – 1215 – 1664

Transcript:

Greetings, today I will talk about Pedro Menéndez de Aviles and the Founding Of St. Augustine
The story of the founding of St. Augustine, Florida begins with a disastrous French settlement on Pariss Island in 1562, North Carolina and ends with the destruction of the French Fort Caroline in Florida three years later.

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Ribault was a member of a religious sect called Huguenots. The members of this sect followed the teaching of theologian John Calvin. As Protestants they faced persecution by the Catholic majority of France. Ribault and his men were searching for a place where they would worship in peace.

He also served as an officer in the French navy and he served under the command of Admiral Gaspard de Coligny. Coligny sent Ribault on a secret mission to find a settlement for the Huguenots in the New World. Their first destination was the current Jacksonville, Florida area. After nosing around a bit they expedition sailed north and reached Pariss Island in current day North Carolina.

French Explorer Jean Ribault explored the area around Paris Island in South Carolina. He decided to establish a small settlement on the island. He left twenty-eight men and sailed back to France to acquire supplies for the colonists on June 11, 1562.

Upon Ribault’s return to France he found that a religious war between the Huguenots and Catholics had erupted. Ribault fled to England where he lobbied Queen Elizabeth I to fund a return voyage. Instead of funding a voyage, she had him arrested as a spy and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

The men left at Pariss Island suffered terribly, as a fire destroyed most of their supplies. The men mutinied against the leader and murdered him. About a year later, with dwindling supplies and hostile natives all around them, they elected to escape. They built a boat and set sail back to France. Most of the men died during the voyage, some from cannibalism that arose out of desperation. Some did get back to the European coast where an English ship rescued them.

A man named Rene Goulaine de Laudonniere had been Ribault’s second in command. After Ribault’s imprisonment French King Charles IX bestowed funds for him to sail to Florida and establish a colony. The expedition sailed from France and landed at the mouth of the St. John’s River. They sailed up river until they found a suitable spot where they built a fort, establishing Fort Caroline on June 22, 1564. The Spanish now had a rival in Florida.

Spanish Admiral Pedro Menéndez de Aviles sailed from Spain with 1500 settlers to counter the French incursion into their territory. They landed at Matanzas Bay where they established St. Augustine on September 08, 1565. Thus began the oldest continuously occupied city in the United States. Aviles’ mission was to build a fort quickly and as soon as it was stable, he was to attack the French settlement at Fort Caroline.

Meanwhile the situation at Fort Caroline was perilous. Supplies were short and some of the men had mutinied. The commander was preparing to abandon the settlement when Ribault, who had been released, came with supplies and more men. He began preparing for the expected Spanish assault.

Ribault had departed Fort Caroline with the to attack St. Augustine. By now, Aviles was finally in a position to attack the French and on September 16, 1565 he departed the fort with 500 men. A severe storm had blown up, bring heavy rains and high winds with it. He troops struggled across the soaked landscape in the rain and reached Fort Caroline on September 19. The storm had buffeted Rinault’s fleet, which began a return to Fort Caroline.

Inside the fort the French had no idea that a Spanish force lay in wait in the dark forest. The commander did not think a land assault was possible, due to the heavy winds and rain. He went to bed, then got up and sent the sentries, who were wet and miserable, to bed.

At dawn the Spanish struck. The garrison, caught by surprise and many still in their night clothes, rose to defend themselves. However, outnumbered and unprepared they stood little chance as the Spanish swept into the fort, killing as they proceeded. About 130 of the French managed to escape and were later rescued by Ribault. The Spanish discovered them and captured them. The gave the Huguenots the choice of converting or dying. Most did not convert and Aviles had them knifed to death.

The next episode will cover Sir Humphrey Gilbert ill fated attempt to settle Newfoundland. The articles in the book contain much more detail about the topics discussed. Additionally, there are other topics not included in the podcast. I encourage you to subscribe to both my web site, mossyfeetbooks.com and this You Tube channel.
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