observation tower were constructed on the island to ensure that goods went through customs officials.
As in other parts of Mexico, the indigenous peoples suffered from epidemics of European infectious diseases and maltreatment, which decimated the population after contact. The Spanish began to import African slaves via the port of Veracruz to work on sugarcane plantations. In the 16th century, this state had more slaves than any other in Mexico.
By the end of the 16th century, the Spanish had constructed roads to link Veracruz with other cities such as C�rdoba, Orizaba, Puebla, Xalapa and Perote. Their gold and silver were the principal exports. This caused the city problems with pirates, prompting the construction of Fort San Juan de Ul�a on the island where Grijalva landed in the mid 16th century. Major public buildings were constructed at the beginning of the 17th century: the municipal palace, the monastery of Nuestra Se�ora de la Merced, and the Hospital de Nuestra Se�ora de Loreto. In 1618, a fire nearly reduced much of the city to ashes. In 1640, the Barlovento Armada was stationed here for further protection against pirates. Through the rest of the colonial period, this was the most important port in New Spain, with a large wealthy merchant class that was more prosperous than that of Mexico City. The pirates Van Hoorn, Laurens de Graaf and Michel de Grammont attacked Vera Cruz in 1683.
The 19th century was marked by armed conflicts. During the Mexican War of Independence, Spain placed troops here to maintain Mexico City�s sea link with Spain. In 1816, Antonio L�pez de Santa Anna commanded royalist troops countering the insurgency. In 1820, insurgents took the city, despite Santa Anna�s attempts to stop them. The last viceroy of New Spain, Juan O'Donoj�, arrived here in 1821, where he signed the Treaty of C�rdoba with Agust�n de Iturbide at Fort San Juan de Ul�a. In 1823, Spanish troops remaining at Fort San Juan de Ul�a fired on the
