Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, was founded on August 5, 1496, by Bartholomew Columbus, brother of Christopher Columbus. It is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas. Santo Domingo was named after Saint Dominic and became the first seat of the Spanish colonial government in the New World.

In 1586, the English privateer Sir Francis Drake captured the city of Santo Domingo. The attack was part of a campaign against the Spanish in the Caribbean. Drake and his men occupied the city for about a month, ransacking buildings and holding the city for ransom before ultimately departing. The raid demonstrated the vulnerability of Spanish possessions in the New World.

The Battle of Santo Domingo took place in 1655 when the forces of Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables attempted to capture the city. The English forces aimed to weaken Spanish control in the Caribbean. However, the Spanish defenders, led by Governor Bernardino de Meneses Bracamonte, successfully repelled the attack. This battle was part of the larger Anglo-Spanish War.

On May 5, 1916, United States Marines landed on the shores of Santo Domingo as part of the U.S. intervention in the Dominican Republic. This occupation was in response to political instability and occurred during the U.S.'s wider Caribbean interventions known as the Banana Wars. The occupation lasted until 1924, profoundly influencing Dominican politics and society.

On November 25, 1961, the Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo was assassinated near Santo Domingo. Trujillo's regime, characterized by great personal power, brutality, and corruption, had ruled the country since 1930. His assassination marked the beginning of the end for the last authoritarian regime in the Dominican Republic and eventually led to its transition towards democracy.

The Dominican Civil War began on April 24, 1965, in Santo Domingo, following a military coup that overthrew the democratically elected president, Juan Bosch. The conflict led to U.S. military intervention as part of Operation Powerpack, with the aim of preventing the spread of communism. The war resulted in significant loss of life and property and influenced future Dominican political developments.

On October 12, 1992, Santo Domingo celebrated the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' landing in the New World. The city, as one of the earliest European settlements in the Americas, hosted various commemorative events. This included the inauguration of the Columbus Lighthouse, a monumental structure built to honor the legacy of Columbus and signal the historic significance of the city.

On November 4, 2003, the financial scandal involving Banco Intercontinental (Baninter) was revealed in Santo Domingo. The collapse of Baninter was one of the largest banking frauds in Dominican history and led to a severe economic crisis. It triggered widespread unrest and prompted reforms in banking regulations aimed at preventing future occurrences of such financial misconduct.

The devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, had significant impacts on Santo Domingo, located on the same island of Hispaniola. The Dominican Republic, including its capital, mobilized to provide aid and support to its neighbor. Santo Domingo became a hub for relief efforts and humanitarian assistance, reflecting its strategic and empathetic role in regional affairs.

Hurricane Maria, a powerful Category 5 storm, affected Santo Domingo after devastating Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017. The hurricane brought heavy rains and strong winds, causing flooding and damage in the capital and other parts of the Dominican Republic. The event highlighted the vulnerabilities of Caribbean nations to natural disasters and prompted international aid and reconstruction efforts.