Document Record

Creator

France. Archives maritimes. Port de Rochefort.

Title

Fonds du Service historique de la Marine à Rochefort

Identifier

lac_mikan_100008
100008
MG 6 C 1
R14527-0-4-F
Papers
French Canada
oocihm.lac_mikan_100008

Document source

Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada

Language

French

Description

The port of Rochefort, France, was created from scratch in 1666 to serve as a military base during wartime, and marine base that traded with the colonies. Its military harbour was fortified by Louis XIV's commissary of fortifications, Vauban. Between 1666 to 1669, the king had the "Corderie Royale" (then the longest building in Europe) constructed to make cordage for French ships of war. Until the end of French rule, almost all shipments of vessels, personnel and goods to Canada passed through Rochefort. Hence a considerable correspondence between the Minister, the settlements and port. Because of its late origin , the port of Rochefort does not have, such as La Rochelle, old documents on early Canadian settlement. Moreover, the majority of the documents in this collectionalready exist in the archives of the Ministries of Marine and Colonies. But we know that the employees of these departments kept copies of the most important letters.
Rochefort, like other ports, thus has many letters that are not found elsewhere, containing much more information and details on ship movements, shipments of weapons, ammunition and food, the recruitment of soldiers, the comings and goings of officers, promotions, and in general all relations with Canada and other colonies.

URL

https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_mikan_100008