Governor's Mansion, Havana

The Governor's Mansion was the home of the Spanish Governor of Cuba, Laureano de Torres y Ayala, during the early 18th century. It was located in the south of Havana.^[1]

The mansion's grounds were extensive, featuring not only a grand villa with a sizable inner courtyard, but also other, less luxurious, amenities for the servants working the adjoining plantation fields. Like many contemporary residencies of colonial governments, the mansion possessed its own prison facilities.^[1]

History[edit | edit source]

In July 1715, Torres inducted Julien du Casse, Woodes Rogers, and the pirate Edward Kenway, who had assumed the identity of Duncan Walpole, into the Templar Order at the mansion. After the ceremony, the Templars spoke about their plans for the future, which involved eliminating the leaders of various Assassin bureaus and finding the Observatory.^[2]

Shortly thereafter, the Sage Bartholomew Roberts was brought to the estate and imprisoned by the Templars, but managed to escape fairly quickly. When Edward attempted to liberate Roberts for his own financial gain, he discovered the Sage's escape and was captured by the Templars, who realized his deceit.^[3]

The mansion continued to house new governors after Torres' death until 1791, when a new mansion was constructed across the square.^[4]