Published Mar 29th, 2021, 3/29/21 7:57 am
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Welcome to the wickedest city on earth!
Being the student of history that I am I was motivated to create something that was not only a build but also a piece of history reconstructed. I utilized the limited archeological data that is available as well as other reconstructions of the city to bring it to life. Where many people hear the words “pirate” and think only of fantasy I think of the real people who set out towards the new world to make a new life for themselves on the high seas.
And so I present to you the city of Port Royal, Jamaica as it would have been in the mid 1680s. Built on a nine square kilometer map and containing 400+ individual buildings it's easily the largest and most expansive project I've ever made.
A special thanks to Sean and DaemonBONK for helping out with some of the buildings around the city and saving me some valuable time.
Being the student of history that I am I was motivated to create something that was not only a build but also a piece of history reconstructed. I utilized the limited archeological data that is available as well as other reconstructions of the city to bring it to life. Where many people hear the words “pirate” and think only of fantasy I think of the real people who set out towards the new world to make a new life for themselves on the high seas.
And so I present to you the city of Port Royal, Jamaica as it would have been in the mid 1680s. Built on a nine square kilometer map and containing 400+ individual buildings it's easily the largest and most expansive project I've ever made.
A General History of Port Royal:
In history there was only one place that could truly call itself a buccaneer bay; Kingston Harbor. And at the mouth of this great harbor on a narrow spit of land lies one of the richest and largest cities in the new world; Port Royal. But to understand why the city became a haven for pirates and privateers some history is needed.
The land where Port Royal would sit was first settled by Europeans in 1494 when the Spanish landed on the island of Jamaica. The Spanish never found the gold or silver they were looking for, only land for growing sugarcane and the large deep water anchorage of Kingston harbor. By 1509 a permanent settlement was established at the end of the long tombolo that shelters Kingston harbor.
146 years would pass in peace until the English invasion of Jamaica in 1655. Though the English would take the strategically unimportant island easily more than half of the occupying force would die of malnutrition and sickness.
Having no real defenses and fearing a Spanish counterattack in 1657 Governor Edward D'Oley invited the Brethren of the Coast to sail from Port Royal. These English and French buccaneers would ward off any Spanish effort to retake Jamaica and in exchange would be given letters of marque. Free to raid Spanish shipping along the many trade routes that ran past the island.
Over the years the ill gotten wealth brought in by these privateers would make Port Royal the richest city in the new world. Dominated by multi story brick buildings the likes of which would only be seen in the great cities of Europe. Though the lifestyle of privateers and pirates created many an opportunity for those wishing to “entertain” the sailors during their time in port. Indeed at one time there was purported to be one drinking establishment for every ten residents of the city.
All this would
The land where Port Royal would sit was first settled by Europeans in 1494 when the Spanish landed on the island of Jamaica. The Spanish never found the gold or silver they were looking for, only land for growing sugarcane and the large deep water anchorage of Kingston harbor. By 1509 a permanent settlement was established at the end of the long tombolo that shelters Kingston harbor.
146 years would pass in peace until the English invasion of Jamaica in 1655. Though the English would take the strategically unimportant island easily more than half of the occupying force would die of malnutrition and sickness.
Having no real defenses and fearing a Spanish counterattack in 1657 Governor Edward D'Oley invited the Brethren of the Coast to sail from Port Royal. These English and French buccaneers would ward off any Spanish effort to retake Jamaica and in exchange would be given letters of marque. Free to raid Spanish shipping along the many trade routes that ran past the island.
Over the years the ill gotten wealth brought in by these privateers would make Port Royal the richest city in the new world. Dominated by multi story brick buildings the likes of which would only be seen in the great cities of Europe. Though the lifestyle of privateers and pirates created many an opportunity for those wishing to “entertain” the sailors during their time in port. Indeed at one time there was purported to be one drinking establishment for every ten residents of the city.
All this would
A special thanks to Sean and DaemonBONK for helping out with some of the buildings around the city and saving me some valuable time.
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Well, not really, but I said it as a idea, but good job!, hope this wins the contest ;D
The idea of that city as such seems interesting to me.
I remember seeing it on a history show.
Have a diamond!
Are you going to make this a download?