Henrietta Marie

The Henrietta Marie was an English slave ship of the 17th century, named after Henrietta Maria of France, wife of Charles I, King of England, Scotland and Ireland.

After the sale of 190 slaves to Jamaica, the ship sank in 1701, 56 km off the coast of Key West ( Florida). The wreck was discovered in 1972 by Mel Fisher. During the excavation of the wreck iron chains and other means for restraining the slaves were discovered. The boat could be identified on the basis of a bronze bell with the ship's name.

The Henrietta Marie was the first shipwreck which has been clearly identified as a slave ship. The route of the vessel met the Atlantic triangular trade between Europe, the West African coast and America, which was traveled by slave ships preferred. The finds in the wreck provide a picture of life on board the ship and the slave trade in general. The wreck is today one of the richest sources of finds from the period of the early slave trade dar. As such it can be called a " gold mine " for information on a central portion of the history of Africa and the Americas.

In commemoration of African slaves in 1993 the union black diver ( National Association of Black Scuba Divers ) can attach a board to the berth of the Henrietta Marie. The panel is directed to the thousands of miles distant coast of Africa and has the name of the ship and the text " In memory and in recognition of the courage, the pain and suffering of enslaved African people. Speak her name and gently touch the souls of our ancestors " (English: ". . In memory and recognition of the courage, pain and suffering of enslaved African people Speak her name and gently touch the souls of our ancestors ").