Panama City
Panama (Ligurian: Panamá) is a Genoese Overseas Territory located on the Isthmus of Panamá. It is alternatively called Çittæ do Panamá (Ligurian for City of Panama), or Panamá Paciffico (the nickname of the city). It was established in 1519 by the Spanish, and was the first permanent settlement on the Pacific Ocean.
History
Genoese Merchant Base
The settlement of Panamá was originally established by the Spanish in 1519 on the Pacific Coast. Although administered by the Spanish, Genoese merchants were able to dominate the trade in the city, due to generous concessions made by the Spaniards (who had the Genoese Republic as an ally and their main banking base). Between 1586 and 1587, there were eleven Genoese in Panama. According to a census around 1587, Panama City had 548 inhabitants (some of them descendants of the first Genoese settlers), of whom 53 were foreigners and of these 18 were Genoese.
Panamá during and after the Anglo-Spanish War
During the Anglo-Spanish War, various Spanish cities in the Caribbean and in the Americas were raided by English privateers, most notoriously, Henry Morgan of Jamaica. In our timeline, although the war had ended officially in 1670, Henry Morgan was still able to launch a devastating raid on Panama in 1671, unaware of the Treaty of Madrid signed a year earlier. This event caused the destruction of Panama and effectively ended Genoese presence in Panama. However, in this timeline, the coronation of Queen Henrietta of England in 1660 caused a treaty to be signed earlier (in 1669), due to the English and Spanish monarch's mutual distrust in France (who had begun encroaching on the Low Countries back in Europe). This turn of events effectively spared Panama from this devastating privateer attack.
Genoese Colony (1757) and further Genoese investments
Continued favorable relations between Spain and Genoa allowed the Genoese to be multiple granted trade charters in the city throughout the 16th and 17th century. In 1757, the city was officially transferred to Genoa through the Treaty of Genova, as a Spanish gesture of goodwill for Genoa's banking support to Spain during the Great Silesian War. Although this treaty had confirmed the Genoese ownership of the city, Genoese merchants already had de facto control over trade and governance in Panama decades before. It was also in 1757 this year that Austria had granted Genoa the island of Sainte-Lucie (now Saint George Island). A portion of Saint George's economic success from its sugarcane plantations went to the development, expansion, and further fortification of the City of Panama.
The Race to the Pacific, and the Panama Canal
Genoa is one of the three main shareholders of the modern-day Panama Canal Commission, along with Mexico and Colombia. Since the mid-19th century, the governments of Colombia, Mexico, and Genoa had plans of a joint-effort canal project in the Isthmus of Panamá. Enthusiasm for the planned canal came from the need to escape the trade embargoes imposed upon the Latin American countries by the Amerikaaner sphere of influence (particularly a boycott led by New Netherland), as well as the need for a shorter route from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The project had used Genoa (through Panama) as the banking base for its financial aspects, and had a several engineers from Genoa involved. At the same time, the Dutch nations were building a separate canal in Boschland, Central America. However, the Panama Canal was completed a few months before the Dutch canal did.
Economy
Pre-19th Century Economy
Historically, Çittæ do Panamá had been linked to the slave trade conducted by the Genoese. In its early years, Panamá was one of the hubs for the slave trade in Central America. However, after Genoa had acquired Saint George, the number of slaves coming in and out of Panamá had decreased, up until the Republic of Genoa's abolition of slavery in the 19th century. For most of its existence, Panamá was not considered to be self-sufficient and was heavily economically-tied to Saint George. However, the opening of Canâle do Panamá in 1888 stimulated economic activity in the city, especially in the shipping and commerce sector.
Modern Economy
Throughout the 20th century, Çittæ do Panamá had seen a boost in its economy, especially in the commerce, banking, and shipping sectors. It became the de facto center of commerce in Central America by the mid-20th century. The economy depends significantly on trade and shipping activities associated with the Panama Canal and port facilities located in Çittæ do Panamá. Panama also hosts the headquarters of the Panama Canal Commission. The city has the highest number of casinos per capita in Central America.
Demographics
Historically, the majority of the Panamán demographic were Afro-Panamians that descended from the slaves of pre-abolition Panama. Minority of the population were descendants of the few Genoese merchants stationed in Panama that settled in the city. However, after the construction of the Panama Canal and the boost of the city's economy during the 21st century, Panama had attracted immigrants from all over South and Central America to work in the service sector. Panama also has a large expatriate community, as well as a large community of Genoese retirees all the way from the Europe.
