The Huguenots
With France being a Catholic country during the sixteenth century, the notion of them defying the Pope's edict and being the first country to actively challenge the Spanish right to the New World and its riches may have seemed unlikely, but that's precisely what happened. During this time, while Spain was busy plundering the New World, they were continually at war with France. In France religious unrest was becoming the norm, setting the stage for later religious civil wars. The Protestant French, known historically as Calvinists but frequently called
Who was Jean Fleury?
Italian privateer and pirate Jean Fleury was a Huguenot who sailed for the French. Fleury's capture of two Spanish ships in 1523 triggered the Huguenot plunder of treasure ships, a practice that would continue for the next forty years. Despite Fleury being captured and executed by the Spanish in 1527, the Huguenots proved to be a huge source of opposition to the Spaniards.
Sitting Targets
The Huguenots were naturally interested in capturing Spanish galleons.
After the Spanish instituted their treasure fleet, the French continued their attacks on vessels, but it became much more difficult to accomplish their felonious tasks. After Jean Fleury was captured during an attack in 1527 and hanged as a pirate, the French privateers realized that while ships were becoming more and more difficult to capture, Spanish port cities were much easier targets. This changed the Huguenots' strategies significantly. As long as they timed their raids correctly, the Huguenots would be able to capture much of the Spanish treasure before it ever reached the treasure fleet. This plan of action paid off handsomely as they proceeded to attack ports in Puerto Rico, Havana, and Cartagena (modern-day Colombia), collecting an impressive amount of pirate booty.
Fort Caroline
As the religious civil war in France continued, many French Protestants found themselves exiled. In 1564, a group of them settled on Florida's coast, calling their new home Fort Caroline. Unlike most settlers whose ambition was to work the land, this group was comprised of soldiers and tradesmen who planned to use the area as a base from which pirate raids on both Spanish ships and Spanish ports could easily be conducted. Unfortunately for the French, the Spanish were growing tired of the Huguenot pirates, and they decided it was time to settle the score.
