Menéndez de Avilés Expedition

The Menéndez de Avilés Expedition (1567-1568) was a Spanish mission led by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés to establish a colony in Florida and challenge French presence there. Menéndez aimed to defend Spain’s claims and secure territory for Spain’s empire. He successfully founded St. Augustine in 1565, the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in North America. The expedition also aimed to eliminate French traders and missionaries encroaching on Spanish claimed lands, solidifying Spain's control over Florida. Overall, it was a key effort to defend and expand Spain’s colonial interests in the southeastern region of North America.