For 50 years, Placentia was France's principal base in Newfoundland. The site offered several
advantages. An extremely deep harbour, sheltered from the winds, accommodated a large number
of ships and was ice free throughout the year, allowing the French to deliver fish to Europe one
month before their competitors. And the site was also easy to defend.
The establishment of a colony at Placentia caused a turnabout in English policy, and the English finally accepted colonization as a means of defending their interest on Newfoundland. By the time the war with the Hapsburg Empire broke out in Europe in 1689, St. John's and Placentia were already well-established colonies, ready to play important roles in the struggle which the two powers were preparing to wage for exclusive control over the fisheries.
In his declaration of war on May 7, 1689 William III made it clear that he intended to re-establish English supremacy in Newfoundland. One way of doing this was to capture Placentia.
Despite an intercolonial treaty of English were the first to attack.
