Game Expansion Historical Research
- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 7 years, 4 months ago by
.
-
-
OK so while I have been preparing new colonies for inclusion into the game, I have been trying to select which locations go where.
I thought I would start a topic on this so that if anyone else wants to offer opinions, their own research or observations, or even just want to read about my reasoning and discovery – they could do so.
This can be about anything historical regarding our game. Today I want to start with the new colonies.
First off I want to say that two of these colonies are already pretty much finished – however they won’t be the first ones you see. I already have a pirate colony on Dominica ready to go. Also some of you may remember the pictures I posted a couple of years ago of my first ported colony from old AOP: CT – Saint Kitts. With locator work complete the only thing left to do is to tweak the photoshop map of the big map because some of these islands will not be part of the greater modeled archipelago. So you will be able to sail straight through the island on the big map, however, when you enter direct sail mode you will be able to see the larger island model there. This is the only way we can bring you these new colonies as of right now unless someone else can provide some other better solution.
The first colonies you are going to see in the game will be on Jamaica. I have done a great deal of study of old sources and maps the last few days. I have found out some amazing things. The oldest settlements on Jamaica were Spanish and were taken over in 1654 by the English as part of Oliver Cromwell’s “Great Western Design”.
The first and oldest town was called Nueva Seville and on the old maps written Nova Sevill. It was an extremely old town town established in 1504. The first English mention of a fort there was in 1750 – however I found evidence from Spanish sources of an old Spanish fort there which is much older and labeled on the oldest maps as “Forteleza Punta”. When the English took over the town, they likely destroyed this fort and I would bet the later ones were built on top of the ruins. The English renamed the town Saint Ann’s Bay. So the first new colony you will see in the game will be this colony and it will obviously be English.
The next one is Montega Bay which was mislabeled from the old Spanish maps which label it as Bahia de Manteca or quite literally Bay of LARD. LMAO – seriously. It was called this because it was a very popular Spanish port which shipped out pigs, leather, and pig by-products – like LARD. This colony was much more unruly with some of the Spaniards remaining behind after the English conquest. From everything I’ve read, it wasn’t even assigned a mayor or any kind of administration until 1670 – so in my mind I believe this is a smuggler port. I plan to make Montego Bay a Pirate port in the game. On some of the old maps post English conquest this area from Montego Bay to St. Ann’s Bay is called “The Spanish Quarter”.
Third, I have to tell you that I am in UTTER SHOCK. For years I have said that the Russians had Fort Orange WRONG – that it was historically incorrect. Today I discovered to my complete dismay that – I WAS WRONG!!!
On the old maps and in old records this small strip of land around Port Negril is labeled – NEW HOLLAND and Fort Orange was an actual REAL location and I have positively identified it on a 1670 copy of a map of Jamaica. I am always willing to admit when I am wrong. The Russian’s got this right and I am very curious who did the research and what resources they used.
I need to do a lot more research on this. A trip to Jamaica for real is in order (next year). From the shreds I am piecing together it appears that when the Dutch colonists were finally ejected from Recife by the Portuguese in Brazil which they had held for about thirty years. This is because the Dutch were occupied with the 1st Anglo-Dutch war. These Dutch colonists made their way to the far west end of Jamaica and founded the small colony. It’s recorded that there were Jewish colonists among them as well. This happened towards the end of that First Dutch War (1654) which Holland technically lost in home waters, but it was actually devastating to English trade globally which the Dutch dominated. Dutch privateering had bankrupted the English abroad and the war was extremely unpopular. The English did not have the strength in the Caribbean to do anything about the Dutch at the time and the Dutch were colonially quite powerful there.
However, Cromwell in that same year came up with his “Great Western Design” and the English (along with many Dutch and French buccaneers from Tortuga) seized Jamaica from the Spanish. The little Dutch colony was tolerated until the 2nd Anglo-Dutch war when the English took control of the colony (with little resistance – most colonists happy to become English). I still haven’t been able to pin down the year of this take over but it had to be about 1665 or 1666. This amazingly goes right along with the English and Dutch Governor’s questlines. Just goes to show that I still learn something new everyday – usually a LOT of things new every day. WOW!
So just for kicks I will list the other colonies we are going to put in. I am not going to spoil this list by telling you which POTC/SOFS/AOP:CT colonies these will end up being yet. They are not all selected and ready yet but I am going to try not to replicate any more colonies from COAS – with possibly the exception of Martinique.
Here’s the list for consideration. Chime in if you have other ideas.
Saint Ann’s Bay (English) Jamaica
Montega Bay (pirate) Jamaica
New Middleburg (Dutch) located at lower right (East) corner of the game map to replicate part of Dutch Surinam
Tobago (Dutch)
Merida (Spanish)
Saint Kitts (French)
Saint Eustasius (Dutch)
Margarita (Spanish)
Aruba (Dutch)
Bonaire (Dutch)
Saba (Dutch)
Dominica (pirate)
Nassau (English)
New Providence (pirate)
Cozumel (Indian/Pirate)
Dead man’s chest island (abandoned – caves and dungeon)
Viquiez (Spanish – no fort)
Isla Mona (abandoned – possibly pirate)
Bayo de Alacranes “Scorpion Reef” (pirate)
A new Belize (English) – rename old Belize – Still researching this one???EDIT:
Oh I forgot two others…Port-de-Paix (French) across from Tortuga on Haiti/Hispaniola
Vera Cruz (Spanish)I am also thinking about putting in San German on the South Western tip of Puerto Rico (no fort) and
Porto Cabanas (Spanish) west of Havana also with no fort.
and Isla de la Juventud (pirate) south of CubaTHOUGHTS???
MK
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
by modernknight1