Editing Fort Niagara (section)

==Origin==
{{Further|Louis-Thomas Chabert de Joncaire#Fort Niagara}}
[[File:Overlooking Fort Niagara (I0004210).jpg|thumb|Overlooking Fort Niagara, c. 1915]]
[[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle]], built the first fortified structure, called [[Fort Conti]], in 1678. In 1687, the Governor of New France, the [[Marquis de Denonville]], replaced it with a new fort. He named it [[Fort Denonville]] and posted a hundred men as a garrison under the command of Capt. [[Pierre de Troyes, Chevalier de Troyes]]. The winter weather and disease was severe, and all but twelve died by the time a relief force returned from [[Montreal]]. The government decided in September 1688 to abandon the post and had the stockade pulled down.

[[Louis-Thomas Chabert de Joncaire]] was dispatched to the [[Seneca people]], one of the Five Nations of the [[Iroquois League]], to obtain permission to build a French post on the banks of the river. He spoke to several chiefs in 1720, explaining his pleasure was always great when he visited them but that he would do it more spontaneously if he had a dwelling place. Considering that he was of the tribe since his turbulent captivity and his "adoption", the chiefs agreed he had the right to build a dwelling where they chose. Joncaire and eight men dispatched from [[Fort Frontenac]] built a [[trading post]], called ''Magasin Royal'' or ''Maison de la Paix'' (Royal Store or House of Peace) on the right bank of the river (going downstream). The name was intended to emphasize the French peaceful intent, to exchange goods for furs here.<ref>[https://www.oldfortniagara.org/history oldfortniagara.org/history]</ref>

[[File:Porte des Cinq Nations.jpg|thumb|''Porte des Cinq Nations''. Beginning in 1756, the main entrance to Fort Niagara was established at the southern bastion, on the side of the Niagara River. The French named this gate the ''Porte des Cinq Nations'', that is, the Gate of the Five Nations, in honor of the Iroquois League.]]
In 1726, French engineer [[Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry (military engineer)|Gaspard-Joseph Chaussegros de Léry]] built a two-story ''Maison à Machicoulis'' or "Machicolated House" on the site to replace the old fort. In 1755 the French expanded the fort to its present size in response to the armed confrontation that started between French and British colonial interests as part of the [[Seven Years' War]] in Europe. In North America, British colonists called this the [[French and Indian War]]; both sides cultivated Native American allies.

The name used today, "The French Castle", was not used until the 19th century.