Colony of Santiago (Jamaica)

Santiago
Spanish colony
1509–1655 →   →
Flag
Capital		Villa de la Vega
Languages		Spanish
Political structure		Colony
Governor		List of Governors of Santiago (Jamaica)
History
-	Established	1509
-	Disestablished	1655
Area		10,991 km² (4,244 sq mi)
Currency		Spanish dollar

Santiago was a Spanish colony of the Spanish West Indies and within the Viceroyalty of New Spain, in the Caribbean region. Its location is the present day island and nation of Jamaica.

Founded in 1509, Santiago was part of the early Spanish colonization of the Americas.

Clashes with the English in the Caribbean in 1655 resulted in the capture of the island from Spain, the only place in the Spanish West Indies that did not have new defensive works. Jamaica was the first place in that part of the New World to be occupied by another European power beside Spain. Its capture was the casus belli that resulted in the Anglo-Spanish War, the actual war between England and Spanish Empire.^[1]

England took formal control of Jamaica island and the Cayman Islands after the Treaty of Madrid was signed in 1670.^[2] Spain also agreed to permit English ships freedom of movement in the Caribbean. Each country agreed to refrain from trading in the others territory.

See also

• Spanish Governors of Santiago (1510–1660)
• Jamaicans of Spanish descent

General:

• Spanish colonization of the Americas
• History of Jamaica

References