Pieces of Eight

Cartagena

Formerly known as Cartagena de Indias, this thriving town stands on the coast of the Spanish Main and is the chief port of the Spanish treasure fleet. The town faces west, with the harbor entrance being to the south.

The English and French both assaulted the fledgling town shortly after its construction, which prompted the Spanish to build a vast fortress and encircle the town with walls to create an impregnable bastion.

It is said that the Spanish king once insisted, with some irony, that given the amount of gold he had spent building the fortifications, he should be able to see them from his window in Spain.

Parts of the city were sacked by the French half a century ago, and sections of the fortifications destroyed. Even so, the city withstood a year long siege by the English only a decade ago. Since that time, the inhabitants have further strengthened the walls.

Needless to say, Cartagena is a wealthy city, and many noblemen have settled here, investing their fortunes in shipping and gold mines.

Rafael el Duque de Moreno y Rivera, the current governor, places a heavy tax on imports and exports to help pay for the ships used to defend the treasure fleet. Imports are charged 20%, and exports a hefty 40%. As a result, Rafael is effectively taxing the citizens of both Cartagena and Spain, a fact that has not gone unnoticed back home.

Nobles in Spain with contacts in the Caribbean are more than happy to pay smugglers as much as 10% of a cargo’s value to avoid having to pay the 40% export tax. As fast as Rafael spends money defeating pirates, his own policies are forcing his countrymen to hire them.