Spanish explorers discovered St Augustine on this day in 1565, all about oldest city in US

Spanish explorer Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles on this day, i.e. September 8, in 1565 discovered St. Augustine in Florida, US. Today, St. Augustine survives as United States oldest continuously occupied city. Don Pedro landed ashore at an inlet called Mantanzas on eastern coast of today’s Florida, planted Spanish flag and declared harbour and surrounding land in name of Spanish Empire. 

history of Spanish explorers in Florida didn’t, however, start with Don Pedro. In 1513, Juan Ponce de Leon was first recorded European to officially set eyes upon peninsula. Despite Juan saying that he ‘discovered’ Florida while looking for ‘Fountain of Youth’, historians later agreed that he travelled due to his own political aspirations. 

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St. Augustine, Florida was founded after Don Pedro was issued an ‘asiento’ by Spanish Crown. contract directed Don Pedro to explore region’s Atlantic coast and report on its features, with object of finding a suitable location to establish a permanent colony from which Spanish treasure fleet could be defended and Spain’s claimed territories in rth America protected against incursions by or European powers. Spanish explorer was ordered by crown to go to Florida and establish a centre of operations from which to attack French. 

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Florida ceded to US in 1821

According to anecdotes, St. Augustine was intended to be a base for furr colonial expansion across what is w southwestern US. However, efforts were hampered by apathy and hostility on part of Native Americans towards becoming Spanish subjects. In following years, settlement faced attacks from European forces. It started with a French soldier attacking Spanish holdings, followed by an English privateer attacking and plundering settlement again. 

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In late 1700s, British forces even mand to raid settlements, which later led to Treaty of Paris that ended seven years’ war. Spain n ceded Florida and St. Augustine to British. Back in 1800s, settlement again saw second period of Spanish rule, however, in 1819, Spain finally ceded Florida to US and in 1821, Florida officially became a US possession as Florida Territory in 1822. 

(Ims: MartyMcFlyZone/Twitter) 

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