From 1656 to 1671, Port Royal, Jamaica was the
capital of the
buccaneers and was known as
the Wickedest City on Earth.
Jamaica was an
English colony, but it wasn't defended by the British, leaving it
vulnerable to attack by the Spanish. However, they had a large population of
pirates and buccaneers who were offered
letters of marque to defend the island from
Spain. The pirates eagerly agreed, establishing their
base of operations at Port Royal. Soon, the city was the largest in the entire Caribbean, divided into a buccaneer quarter and a smaller
genteel quarter. The
privateers didn't bother the
wealthy plantation owners, except with their noise, and the plantation owners tolerated the buccaneers because of their
military value.
The pirates' quarter of Port Royal quickly became
notorious for the large amount of sinning going on there.
Taverns,
brothels, and
gambling houses lined almost every block. Sir
Henry Morgan often arrived in the city to celebrate the success of his raids -- he would set a huge cask of
Spanish wine in the middle of the street and command all who passed to stop and have a drink with him. His victory celebrations often lasted for days.
When Spain and
England allied against
France in 1671, the letters of marque were revoked, but pirates continued to slip into Port Royal in small groups for
entertainment and
recruitment, though they no longer had the run of the town.
In 1692, an
earthquake destroyed Port Royal, and the Wickedest City on Earth ceased to exist. This was seized on by many
preachers as proof of
God's
vengeance, leading to many anti-
piracy sermons.
-brazil- reminds me that Morgan himself was the city's
vice governor (Yes, it's a real title, and no, it doesn't mean governor of vice!) during his last years.
Research: GURPS Swashbucklers, Third Edition, by Steffan O'Sullivan, (C) 1999 by Steve Jackson Games, pp. 68-69.