The Forgotten Story of America’s First African Slaves – You’ll Be Shocked by What Went Down!

In American history, the narrative of African slavery usually begins with the arrival of 20 slaves in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. But this wasn’t the first instance of African enslavement in what would become the United States. A century earlier, in 1526, a Spanish expedition, led by Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon, established the colony of San Miguel de Gualdape somewhere along the southeastern coast of the U.S., likely in modern-day South Carolina or Georgia. Among the settlers were approximately 100 enslaved Africans, marking the start of the brutal reality of African slavery in North America.

Though the exact location of San Miguel de Gualdape remains unclear, the experiences of these early enslaved Africans mirrored the harshness of what would follow across the continent for centuries. Historians believe that these slaves were likely domestic servants rather than field laborers, yet their treatment was equally harsh. Facing cruelty and deprivation, these individuals were pushed to their limits, leading to what is now considered the first recorded slave uprising in America. During a power struggle among the Spanish settlers, the enslaved Africans revolted, burning down the home of a rebel leader. What happened to these individuals after the revolt remains unknown, adding a layer of mystery to this dark chapter of history.

Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon’s Vision

Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon, a wealthy plantation owner from Hispaniola, founded San Miguel de Gualdape in 1526. His ambition wasn’t just to settle new land but to expand his wealth through the acquisition of more slaves. Like many early Spanish explorers, Ayllon sought fame, fortune, and new territories. A successful plantation owner, he was also the mayor of La Concepcion, a town in Hispaniola. It was his drive for expansion that led to multiple expeditions northward, ultimately setting the stage for San Miguel de Gualdape’s brief existence.

Spanish Expeditions and Slave Labor

In 1514, Ayllon sent Pedro de Salazar northward in search of new land. Salazar sailed past the Bahamas and into what is now Georgia, where he encountered Native Americans. Encouraged by these discoveries, Ayllon sent another expedition in 1521, led by Francisco Gordillo, to capture indigenous people for slave labor. Although the attempt failed to secure slaves from the Bahamas, the team ventured further north, landing in South Carolina. There, they captured 70 Native Americans and returned with them to Hispaniola. The report of fertile land and a new opportunity motivated Ayllon to seek permission from Spain to establish a colony.

The King’s Approval and the Failed Colonization Attempt

Ayllon sailed to Spain in 1523 with one of the captured Native Americans, who had converted to Christianity and taken the name Francisco Chicora. Chicora’s stories of riches and vast lands impressed Ayllon, who used this to secure a royal patent from King Charles V to establish a colony on the Atlantic coast. In 1526, Ayllon launched a large-scale expedition with six ships, 600 colonists, and around 100 enslaved Africans. The journey was fraught with disaster. The flagship sank, and the group faced constant challenges from disease, starvation, and hostile Native Americans. After Ayllon’s death in October 1526, internal conflicts erupted among the settlers.

The First Slave Revolt in America

Amid the chaos, tensions between the enslaved Africans and the Spanish colonists boiled over. Taking advantage of the power struggle among the settlers, the slaves staged an uprising. They attacked and set fire to the house of Doncel, the leader of one of the settler factions. Although the slaves succeeded in the attack, their ultimate fate is lost to history. Some speculate they escaped into the wilderness and possibly joined local Native American tribes, but there’s no concrete evidence to support this theory.

The Collapse and Abandonment of San Miguel de Gualdape

After the uprising and continued hostilities, the settlement’s conditions worsened. Disease, food shortages, and ongoing attacks from local tribes made life unbearable for the colonists. Eventually, the settlers decided to abandon San Miguel de Gualdape and return to Hispaniola. By the time the survivors made it back, only 150 of the original 600 colonists remained alive.

San Miguel de Gualdape’s brief existence is a little-known but significant chapter in the early history of African slavery in North America. Its collapse serves as a reminder of the harsh realities that the enslaved Africans and early colonists faced during the Age of Exploration. The uprising by the enslaved Africans in 1526 is considered the first known act of rebellion by slaves on the continent, setting a precedent for the centuries of resistance that would follow.