Charlesfort
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HistoryEstablished by Jean Ribault and some 150 French Huguenots in May 1562. To establish a French claim to the area, Ribault erected engraved columns in several locations including the fort site and Daws Island across the river from it. Ribault's men built a small earth-and-log fort and named it Charlesfort after their King Charles IX. After the fort was completed, Ribault returned to France for supplies and more colonists. He left behind 28 men to garrison the fort until he returned. His return was delayed by a religious war in France and the garrison at Charlesfort believed themselves either abandoned or that Ribault had been lost at sea. The garrison built themselves a 20-ton ship and sailed for France in 1563. The ship arrived in the English Channel months later without food or water and with only 20 survivors. The surviving crew had resorted to cannibalism to survive. Before another French expedition could be organized the Spanish sent Manrique de Rojas to destroy the abandoned Charlesfort. In 1564 Rojas burnt the fort to the ground and the French never returned. Rojas also removed the engraved columns that Ribault had emplaced to establish French claim to the area. The Spanish returned in 1566 and built a series of forts on or near the site of the original French fort. Later the Spanish established a settlement called Santa Elena and these forts came to be collectively known as the Forts of Santa Elena, see the chronology below.
The Spanish abandoned the site in 1563, retreated to Spanish Florida and never returned. Current StatusThese sites are located on the southern tip of Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot at the edge of the golf course. The Marine Corps first excavated the sites to determine the placement of the individual forts. An excellent series of reader boards now covers the history of the sites. What is now known as Fort San Marcos is outlined with concrete markers. The 1926 Charlesfort Monument actually marks the site of Fort San Marcos which was mistakenly thought to be the Charlesfort site until the real site was discovered about 200 yards north. Excavations between 1979 and 1996 verified the location of the French fort which had been built over by later Spanish Forts. The Parris Island MCRD Museum is not to be missed, not only does it contain a history of the Marine Corps and the recruit depot but also has excellent displays and information about the French and Spanish forts. This is a very active military base and access may be restricted but they are very used to civilian guests because of the many graduation exercises. If you do not have a military ID call ahead to the base visitor center for access requirements. From the Museum Website:
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Visited: 4 Mar 2018
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