San Lorenzo de Ibihica
Encyclopedia
San Lorenzo de Ibihica was a Spanish
Franciscan
mission
built in the early 17th century in the southeast of the present-day U.S. state
of Georgia
. It was part of Spain's effort to colonize
the region of Spanish Florida
and convert the Timucua
Native Americans
to Catholicism
. It served the Ibi
tribe, also known as the Yui or Ibihica, a Timucua people of the area.
, Ibihica. It was located in the Georgia
interior 14 leagues (about 50 miles) from Mission San Pedro de Mocama
on Cumberland Island
. It probably stood east of the Okefenokee Swamp
, near the Charlton
-Camdem
county line, just north of the present border between Georgia and Florida
and between St. Marys
and Satilla River
s.
Spanish missionary efforts among the Ibi began with the visit of the Franciscan
Fray Pedro Ruíz in 1597. Ruíz had some success in converting the people and managed to secured the submission of the chief to Spanish authority, but he had to be recalled later that year due to the Guale
Rebellion. The Ibi thus had no friar of their own, but were visited regularly by friars from Missions San Pedro de Mocama and San Juan del Puerto. After 1616 San Lorenzo de Ibihica was established to give the Ibi their own mission. It continued to operate until 1656, when the mission and town were evidently destroyed by the Spanish as a result of the Timucua Rebellion.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
mission
Spanish missions in Georgia
The Spanish missions in Georgia comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholics in order to spread the Christian doctrine among the local Native Americans. The Spanish chapter of Georgia's earliest colonial history is dominated by the lengthy mission era, extending from...
built in the early 17th century in the southeast of the present-day U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. It was part of Spain's effort to colonize
Spanish colonization of the Americas
Colonial expansion under the Spanish Empire was initiated by the Spanish conquistadores and developed by the Monarchy of Spain through its administrators and missionaries. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions...
the region of Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida refers to the Spanish territory of Florida, which formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and the Spanish Empire. Originally extending over what is now the southeastern United States, but with no defined boundaries, la Florida was a component of...
and convert the Timucua
Timucua
The Timucua were a Native American people who lived in Northeast and North Central Florida and southeast Georgia. They were the largest indigenous group in that area and consisted of about 35 chiefdoms, many leading thousands of people. The various groups of Timucua spoke several dialects of the...
Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
to Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. It served the Ibi
Ibi (tribe)
The Ibi, also known as the Yui or Ibihica, were a Timucua chiefdom in the present-day U.S. state of Georgia during the 16th and 17th centuries. They lived in southeastern Georgia, about 50 miles from the coast...
tribe, also known as the Yui or Ibihica, a Timucua people of the area.
History
Mission San Lorenzo was established at the main village of the IbiIbi (tribe)
The Ibi, also known as the Yui or Ibihica, were a Timucua chiefdom in the present-day U.S. state of Georgia during the 16th and 17th centuries. They lived in southeastern Georgia, about 50 miles from the coast...
, Ibihica. It was located in the Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
interior 14 leagues (about 50 miles) from Mission San Pedro de Mocama
San Pedro de Mocama
San Pedro de Mocama was a Spanish Franciscan mission built in the mid-16th century on Cumberland Island in what is now the U.S. state of Georgia. It was part of the missions system of Spanish Florida, and was founded to serve the Tacatacuru, a chiefdom of the Timucua...
on Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island is one of the Sea Islands. Cumberland is the largest in terms of continuously exposed land area of Georgia's barrier islands. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the U.S. state of Georgia and is part of Camden County...
. It probably stood east of the Okefenokee Swamp
Okefenokee Swamp
The Okefenokee Swamp is a shallow, 438,000 acre , peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida border in the United States. A majority of the swamp is in Georgia and protected by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Okefenokee Wilderness. The Okefenokee Swamp is considered to be...
, near the Charlton
Charlton County, Georgia
Charlton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 10,282. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 10,609. The county seat is Folkston.-History:...
-Camdem
Camden County, Georgia
Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is one of the original counties of Georgia, created February 5, 1777. As of 2000, the population was 43,664. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 48,689. The county seat is Woodbine.-History:The first European to land...
county line, just north of the present border between Georgia and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and between St. Marys
St. Marys River (Florida/Georgia)
The St. Marys River is a river in the southeastern United States. It is named after the Irish Saint Mary. From near its source in the Okefenokee Swamp, to its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean, it forms a portion of the border between the U.S. states of Georgia and Florida...
and Satilla River
Satilla River
The Satilla River rises in Ben Hill County, Georgia, near the town of Fitzgerald, and flows in a mostly easterly direction to the Atlantic Ocean. Along its approximately course are the cities of Waycross, Waynesville, and Woodbine. The Satilla drains almost of land, all of it in the coastal...
s.
Spanish missionary efforts among the Ibi began with the visit of the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Fray Pedro Ruíz in 1597. Ruíz had some success in converting the people and managed to secured the submission of the chief to Spanish authority, but he had to be recalled later that year due to the Guale
Guale
Guale was an historic Native American chiefdom along the coast of present-day Georgia and the Sea Islands. Spanish Florida established its Roman Catholic missionary system in the chiefdom in the late 16th century. During the late 17th century and early 18th century, Guale society was shattered...
Rebellion. The Ibi thus had no friar of their own, but were visited regularly by friars from Missions San Pedro de Mocama and San Juan del Puerto. After 1616 San Lorenzo de Ibihica was established to give the Ibi their own mission. It continued to operate until 1656, when the mission and town were evidently destroyed by the Spanish as a result of the Timucua Rebellion.