Panama - Pirates of the Caribbean
The seventeenth century was distinguished by one of those extraordinary circumstances which have never been witnessed since the destruction of the Cilician Pirates by Pompey. These were characterized by some particulars that are yet more striking: they cannot be compared to the republics known under the name of Barbary States. Their plan, organization, and their ferocious exploits, are altogether different from those of all the associations which have ever infested the seas with their piracies and robberies.
The Free-booters had no models by which to regulate themselves. They were a floating republic; the members of which, natives of Europe, were divided into troops of greater or less force, who were animated by the same spirit, directed by uniform principles, bound by conventions or agreements, and who scoured the American seas, having booty for their rallying cry.
This singular state was indebted for its first origin to the avidity and to the oppressions of insatiable Europeans, especially of the Spaniards, who ruled the West Indies with an iron sceptre; to the difficulty of consolidating the government of such prodigiously extensive territories, at such a great distance from Europe, all with means so greatly inferior to those at present employed: and, lastly, to the attraction of plunder otlrred to tho world by the navigation of the "Spaniards, and the almost inexhaustible riches of Mexico arid Peru, which abounded with the precious metals.
To these causes may be added the jealousy with which the European powers were inspired by the success of Spain, who had acquired so considerable a portion of the New World; while their possessions were either of no value, confined to some colonies on the coast, or to a few islands of little consequence; and when also those states of North America, which since became so flourishing, were yet in their earliest infancy.
Hence arose that protection which was granted to these Pirates, sometimes secretly, sometimes openly, by France and England, and also by Portugal and Holland, the governors of their islands, and the commanders of their ships of war, in the hope of weakening the power of Spain, and of enriching their own colonies.
During the first quarter of the seventeenth century, trade between Spain and the isthmus remained undisturbed. At the same time, England, France, and the Netherlands, one or all almost constantly at war with Spain, began seizing colonies in the Caribbean. Such footholds in the West Indies encouraged the development of the buccaneers—English, French, Dutch, and Portuguese adventurers who preyed on Spanish shipping and ports with the tacit or open support of their governments. Because of their numbers and the closeness of their bases, the buccaneers were more effective against Spanish trade than the English had been during the previous century.
The volume of registered precious metal arriving in Spain fell from its peak in 1600; by 1660 volume was less than the amount registered a century before. Depletion of Peruvian mines, an increase in smuggling, and the buccaneers were causes of the decline.
Henry Morgan, a buccaneer who had held Portobelo for ransom in 1668, returned to Panama with a stronger force at the end of 1670. On January 29, 1671, Morgan appeared at Panama City. With 1,400 men he defeated the garrison of 2,600 in pitched battle outside the city, which he then looted. The officials and citizens fled, some to the country and others to Peru, having loaded their ships with the most important church and government funds and treasure. Panama City was destroyed by fire, probably from blown up powder stores, although the looters were blamed. After 4 weeks, Morgan left with 175 mule loads of loot and 600 prisoners. Two years later, a new city was founded at the location of the present-day capital and was heavily fortified.
The buccaneer scourge rapidly declined after 1688 mainly because of changing European alliances. By this time Spain was chronically bankrupt; its population had fallen; and it suffered internal government mismanagement and corruption.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
