• Shore birds thrive in this coastal enviornment.

    Timucuan

    Ecological & Historic Preserve Florida

Rene de Laudonniere

Rene de Laudonniere

Library of Congress

Rene de Laudonniere

Rene de Laudonniere (c. 1529-1582) commanded Fort de la Caroline, organizing the building of the fort and settlement in 1564. He survived the Spanish massacre of the French in 1565 and later wrote his L'Histoire notable de la Florida.
  • Pedro de Menendez Pedro de Menendez

    Learn more about the Spanish commander sent to remove the French from Florida. Read More

  • Jean Ribault Jean Ribault

    Learn more about the French explorer who chose the location for the la Caroline colony. Read More

Did You Know?

French King Charles IX

The word "Caroline" - while feminine in gender - does not refer to a female of that name but rather a geographic area. The word "Caroline" comes from Old French which loosely translated means "the
land belonging to Charles," in this case King Charles IX of France. More...