Port Royal And Kingston

Jamaica was always one of the most important colonies of the old British empire – an island large enough to support a sizable population with good anchorages set slap-bang in the middle of the Caribbean and across Spanish lines of communication to their colonies. That is why, as the Gomorrah Event hit, it was the base for Admiral Vernon’s fleet and army preparing to attack the Spanish colonial city of Cartagena De Indias. With the attack called off, Vernon used his ships and men to help keep order in the British North American colonies and as the basis for a massive aid system that got the bulk of the population through the winter years following the Event.

Jamaica is still an important place, now because its fleet anchorage in Port Royal Bay is the home base for the Caribbean Fleet that keeps the new French and Spanish nations in check in the region as well as keeping pirates operating from the jungled coasts of South America or tiny islands in the Caribbean itself from becoming too much of a scourge. Port Royal, once Jamaica’s most important city, was largely abandoned after an earthquake levelled it in 1693, and it’s sister city of Kingston across the bay rose to prominence. Port Royal was eventually rebuilt by the privateers of the Brethren and their camp followers, but Kingston remains the administrative capital of the region and seat of the Governor.

The two cities are a study in contrasts. Kingston has the fine government buildings – the Governor’s Mansion, Admiralty House, Shire Court and so forth – as well as the fine hotels and restaurants, while Port Royal has dive bars and whorehouses.