Puerto Rico

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Puerto Rico
General information
Location	Caribbean Sea
Points of interest	San Juan
Notable inhabitants	Juan Ponce de León
Societal
Population	Spanish colonists
Affiliation	Spain
Behind the scenes
First appearance	Armada of the Damned
Latest appearance	Armada of the Damned

Puerto Rico was an island in the central Caribbean Sea. Surrounded with an archipelago of smaller islands, it was discovered and colonized by the Spanish during the early 1500s. Though it was the smallest island of the Greater Antilles, it soon became one of the most important Spanish colonies in the New World.

History

Originally populated for centuries by indigenous tribes, the island was claimed by explorer Christopher Columbus during his voyage to the Americas in 1493. Under Spanish rule, the island was colonized and the indigenous population was forced into slavery and wiped out due to, among other things, European infectious diseases. In the beginning of the 16th century, the Spanish began to colonize the island. Juan Ponce de León was appointed as the first governor of Puerto Rico. As provincial governor, Ponce de León built the town of San Juan.

To avoid that enemies take the island of Puerto Rico and use it as a base from which to attack the Spanish Treasure Fleets, Spain authorized the fortification of San Juan. The construction of El Morro de San Felipe Castle began in 1539. Other small forts were also built. In 1595 El Morro was attacked by Sir Francis Drake and his fleet. Fortunately for the Spaniards El Morro proved itself worthy for battle and the enemy was repelled.

George Clifford, the count of Cumberland along side his large fleet took the city but they couldn't take El Morro. After suffering of exhaustion in the sun they were forced to leave. The Dutch also attacked Puerto Rico twenty seven years later under General Boudewin Hendricksz. They sieged San Juan and burnt down a great part of the city. Not being able to take El Morro, they also left.

James Sterling before the governor's mansion in San Juan.

During one period seven years passed and not one ship came from Spain. Since Puerto Rico was a colony of Spain and could not commerce with any other country, contraband flourished with neighboring Dutch, French and British islands. Even local officials were involved in the smuggling business which became the most important part of the economy in Puerto Rico. The coastal towns were constantly being visited by pirates, James Sterling among them.

Behind the scenes

Two scenes from the 2011 film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides were filmed in Puerto Rico. The scene of a carriage arriving to King Ferdinand's palace in Cádiz was filmed in Fort San Cristobal in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. Another scene filmed was where Jack Sparrow maroons Angelica on Sola Fide Beach, which was shot off the coast of Puerto Rico in Palominito Island.

On January 15, 2014, directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg confirmed that filming for Pirates of the Caribbean 5 may take place in Puerto Rico and New Orleans. Whether those plans have changed or not, because of production taking place in Australia, is unknown.

The only appearance of Puerto Rico in the Pirates of the Caribbean world is in the video game Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned. But due to the game being cancelled, it is unknown if the island's appearance in the game is canon or not.

Appearances

• Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned

Sources

• The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide
• The Art of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

External links

• Puerto Rico on Wikipedia

Notes and references

Locations in Pirates of the Caribbean
Africa Barbary Coast – Calabar – Egypt – Kerma – Slave Coast – Tripoli The Americas Boston – Canada – Florida – Louisiana – Mexico – New Orleans – North Carolina Panama – Peru – Savannah – Virginia – Yucatán Peninsula Asia Bombay – China – Hong Kong – India – Nippon – Shanghai – Singapore – Suvarnadurg The Bahamas Andros – Nassau – New Avalon – New Providence The Caribbean Antigua – Black rock island – Cuba – Devil's Triangle – Dominica – Guadeloupe – Hangman's Bay – Hispaniola Ile d'Etable de Porc – Isla De La Avaricia – Isla Cruces – Isla de Muerta – Isla de Pelegostos Martinique – Padres Del Fuego – Port Royal – Poseidon's Tomb Puerto Rico – Saint Martin – San Silvestre –Shipwreck Island – St. Lucia – Tortuga – Unnamed Island Europe Barcelona – Cádiz – Cartagena – France – Gibraltar – Great Britain – Holland London – Marseille – Paris – Portugal – Scotland – Seville – Spain – Other locations Davy Jones' Locker – Farthest Gate – Ice Passage – Isla Sirena
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