Port Royal

Kingston

Port Royal, located at the mouth of Kingston Harbour in southeastern Jamaica, was founded by the Spanish in 1494. Originally inhabited by the Taino people who called it Caguay, the area became a strategic colonial outpost. The Spanish, after settling Jamaica, used Port Royal mainly to control trade routes, but it was the English capture in 1655 that transformed the town into a bustling port. By the late 17th century, Port Royal was the largest and most prosperous city in the Caribbean, famed for its wealth accumulated through privateering and piracy. It became known as "the wickedest city on Earth," with its sailors and pirates indulging in taverns, gambling houses, and brothels. The town served as a base for English and Dutch privateers who attacked Spanish vessels, many turning to piracy after official letters of marque were withdrawn. However, on June 7, 1692, a devastating earthquake and tsunami destroyed much of the city, sinking large parts underwater and leading to the rise of Kingston as Jamaica's commercial and political center. Today, Port Royal is a small fishing town with archaeological significance, and plans have been made to develop it as a heritage tourism destination highlighting its unique privateering past.