“No hay boticario ni especiero en este reino que no pone su parte para armar navíos e ir a las Indias”. French corsair activity in the Spanish Caribbean during the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis (1559-1578)

Abstract

The Spanish settlement of the Indies during the early decades of the sixteenth century initiated a transformative process with unprecedented implications within the European geopolitical landscape, expanding the world map to include territorial contexts never seen before. Spain's advantage during this period challenged the hegemonic ambitions of its rivals, who were initially excluded from the opportunities presented by the American scenario. To weaken a menacingly expanding Spanish crown, privateering was established as an ideal weapon of war, a form of sabotage, which despite being documented since Antiquity, evolved during the early sixteenth century and played a significant role until the eighteenth century. This study will specifically address French interference within the Spanish American domains during this time, with particular focus on two periods situated in the latter half of the century: its organization following the signing of the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis (1559), and the reports about the creation of a threatening fleet intended to attack the Indies with the sanction of the French crown between 1570-1580.