Europeans in 16th century SC

Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, Hernando DeSoto,Jean Ribaut and Pedro Menenedez attempted to colonize SC in the 16th century. Parris Island and Georgetown settlement sites.

In 1520, the Spaniard Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon sent an expedition into the area now known as South Carolina. By the end of the century, six European exploration expeditions would find their way to SC. Long before SC was settled and claimed by the English, the Spanish and French found interests in the area.

Having lived in SC for over fifty years, I can vouch for the influences of the various European, African and Native American groups who shaped the modern history off the state. Later blogs will touch on the cultural diffusion of each of the above groups. This blog will outline European explorers of the 16th century.

De Allyon's men explored along the SC coast where we still call the moss "Spanish moss." Finding no gold, the men claimed the land for Spain and left taking about 150 Indians with them. In 1526, Allyon captained another expedition to find gold--this time he came to SC himself. He established a fort along Winyah Bay, but found no gold. Sickness, perhaps malaria killed many of the men, including Allyon. Friendly Indians became hostile and the fort was abandoned. The few remaining men sailed back to the West Indies.

For over a decade, no European expeditions touched SC until Spaniard Hernando DeSoto led a battalion of soldiers through the state in 1540. DeSoto traveled along the Savannah River through the mountains but found no gold. He claimed all the land for Spain. The French would have something to say about this.

In 1562, Jean Ribaut sailed into an area that he named Port Royal Sound. The waters still bear the name given by Ribaut. Ribaut built a fort on land now a part of the Parris Island Marine Base. Though the French had better relations with the Indians than did the Spanish, the fort was abandoned.

In 1566, Spain returned to SC to counter the French threat. Pedro Menenedez built a fort near Port Royal Sound. For ten years Spain remained a presence but were driven out by the Indians of the area.

The final attempt by Spain to establish a colony in SC was begun in 1576 on Parris Island. A settlement of 60 houses existed until Philip II of Spain ordered the site abandoned in 1586--two years before the Spanish Armada.