page_title: France–Americas relations
section_title: Early Huguenot colonists
hierarchical_section_title: France–Americas relations / Early encounters (16th century) / Early Huguenot colonists
caption_attribution_description: Jacques de Sores sacks Havana
context_page_description: France–Americas relations started in the 16th century, soon after the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus, and have developed over a period of several centuries.
context_section_description: Soon, the Huguenots, whose Reformist religions was in conflict with  the French crown, attempted to colonize the New World to find a new ground for their religion and to contest the Catholic presence there.
  Huguenot pirates such as François le Clerc attacked Catholic shipping repeatedly, raiding New World harbours. The Huguenots raided Hispaniola in 1553, fighting against the Spanish Catholic presence there, followed by raid on Cuba. La Havana was seized by Jacques de Sores in 1555.
  The first attempts at colonization were made under Pierre Richier and Jean de Léry. After the short-lived establishment of France Antarctique in Brazil from 1555 to 1567, they had to abandon, and finally resolved to make a stand back in France, centering on the city of La Rochelle for the organization of resistance.
  The first French expedition to Florida occurred in 1562, composed of Protestants, and was led by Jean Ribault and permitted the short-lived establishment of Fort Caroline, named after the French king Charles IX.
  These first attempts at Huguenot colonization would be taken over by Catholics, following the Huguenot repression in the French wars of religion.
caption: Huguenot Jacques de Sores looting and burning La Havana in 1555.
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