Chronology of Fort Caroline

Exploration through Destruction

Ribault's First Expedition

18 Feb. 1562 - Ribault leaves le Havre
30 April - Ribault reaches the FL coast
1 May - He finds entrance of River of May
May 1563 - Ribault's book on FL is published in England

Laudonniere's Expedition

22 Apr. 1564 - Laudonniere leaves le Havre
22 June - He arrives off the coast of FL
25 June - He reaches River of May
25 June - He meets Saturiwa (Chief)
30 June - Founding of la Caroline
13 Nov. - Thirteen men desert the colony
May-June 1565 - Famine at la Caroline

Ribault's Second Expedition

22 Mar. 1565 - Menendez assigned to conquer Florida
26 May - Ribault leaves France
14 Aug. - Ribault reaches Florida coast
15 Aug. - Menendez leaves Puerto Rico with 5 vessels
25 Aug. - Menendez in sight of FL
28 Aug. - Ribault lands with reinforcements
4 Sept. - Menendez discovers Ribault's ships
8 Sept. - Menendez moves south and establishes St. Augustine
10-23 Sept. - Ribault's fleet sets out and destroyed by storms
17 Sept. - Menendez begins march on Fort Caroline
20 Sept. - Spanish capture Fort Caroline
25 Sept. - Two ships leave for France
29 Sept. - First massacre
10 Oct. - Menendez hears of Ribault's shipwreck
12 Oct. - Second massacre, Ribault slain
15 Nov. - Laudonniere arrives in England

De Gourgue' Expedition

Aug. 1567 - De Gourges departs

22 April 1568 - He lands in Florida

4 April - He takes the 2 Spanish forts

27 April - Captures Fort San Mateo (Fort Caroline)

27-28 April - Massacre of the Spaniards

3 May - De Gourgues leaves Florida

Return to Fort Caroline Home.

 
a map illustrating the different paths each voyage took over the Atlantic Ocean. Some routes depict French in blue, the Spanish treasure fleet path in yellow and the Spanish settlers in red.
A map depicting the routes of each voyage.

Last updated: January 3, 2018

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

12713 Fort Caroline Road
Jacksonville, FL 32225

Phone:

904-641-7155

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