St. Augustine The Oldest Settlement Of European Origin

Milena A. Rodriguez Professor Patrick Leitch ENC 1102 10 September 2016 Castillo de San Marcos In the United States, St. Augustine is the oldest settlement of European origin which has been continuously occupied. It was founded in 1565 by Pedro Menendez de Aviles, a Spanish conquistador. The isolated outpost of St Augustine enjoyed a peaceful coexistence with the Native Americans which provided stability to the small province for a few years. The town would soon suffer at the hands of Sir Frances Drake, who in 1586 sacked and burned St. Augustine. 100 years later, sixty people were killed by Robert Searle, an English buccaneer who attacked the small province, pillaged churches, homes and government buildings. Further north, an English settlement at Charles Town posed a threat to the small Spanish colony, which after the raid by Robert Searle, forced the Spanish monarchy to consider the vulnerability of St. Augustine and seek to improve its defenses. Queen Regent Mariana in 1669 ordered the disbursement of funds to construct a masonry fortress. The constr uction of the Castillo de San Marcos commenced in 1672 and was completed in 1695. Shortly thereafter, a new threat arose. In November of 1702, under the command of Governor Moore, forces from Carolina mounted a 58 day siege on the Castillo. It was a failed attempt, but it prompted improvements to the town of St. Augustine and to Castillo. Bombproof rooms were built in the interior for the protection of supplies, vaulted