The Spaniards in Florida Comprising the Notable Settlement of the Huguenots in 1564, and the History and Antiquities of St. Augustine, Founded A.D. 1565

"The Spaniards in Florida" by George R. Fairbanks is a historical narrative that unfolds the early chapters of Spanish colonization in Florida, spotlighting the creation of St. Augustine and the challenges encountered by the Huguenots. Fairbanks meticulously traces the historical backdrop, contrasting the quiet modern setting of St. Augustine with its former role as America's first permanent European foothold. It explains the early expeditions of explorers like Juan Ponce de Leon, the planting of French Huguenot colonies, and the subsequent Spanish conquest under Pedro Menendez de Aviles. The initial part of the book sets the stage with the Huguenot's battles with Spanish expansion, detailing the construction of Fort Caroline, and the terrible results of conflicting religious and national interests in the 1500s, setting readers up for a detailed study of Florida's complicated colonial past and its lasting impacts.