Discovering Pedro Menendez de Aviles: 9 Exciting Fun Facts About the Trailblazing Spanish Conquistador

1. Runaway Conquistador Founding Father

Who needs Peter Pan when you've got Pedro de Avilés, the runaway conquistador who traded Neverland for the New World: This daring adventurer, despite his tumultuous childhood and leaving home to escape his guardian, went on to enjoy a successful naval career, becoming a distinguished admiral and founding St. Augustine, Florida – the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement on the continental United States.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Pedro the Sims-style Workaholic

If Pedro Menéndez de Avilés were a character in the game "The Sims," his focus and work ethic bars would be constantly maxed out: As a Spanish naval captain, Menéndez was so dedicated to his career that he never took a break to get hitched or raise a family. Instead, he spent his days designing galleons, organizing the first trans-oceanic convoys, and building fortifications in La Florida until his very last sea shanty.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that Florida's name has a surprising origin? Discover how Juan Ponce de León found inspiration in the state's lush greenery! 🌿🤔

=> Fun Facts about Juan-Ponce-De-Leon

3. Smuggling Mastermind and Colonial Leader

Who says crime doesn't pay? Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the swashbuckling Spanish admiral with a penchant for allegedly smuggling precious stones and taking silver-filled bribes, evidently had the uncanny ability to wriggle out of trouble like a masterful Houdini: In spite of accusations and arrests, he still managed to found St. Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the continental United States, all the while leading a fruitful career as a colonial leader and naval hero. Huzzah!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Gold-for-Dinner Governor

Did you hear about the Spaniard who craved take-out gold for dinner? Well, his name was Pedro Menendez de Aviles, the first governor of Spanish Florida: He established forts, traded gold with the Calusa Indians for food, and encouraged the spread of Roman Catholicism in the region by asking ships from Spain to carry priests with them.
Source => fcit.usf.edu

5. Storm-Surviving St. Augustine Founder

Imagine Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and his crew channeling their inner Pirates of the Caribbean and bracing themselves through the gnarly thunderstorms of yore: This fearless fleet, led by Pedro and his mighty galleon "San Pelayo", embarked on a daring journey to La Florida in 1565, surviving stormy seas only to end up establishing St. Augustine as the first European city in what is now the United States on behalf of the King of Spain. Talk about making a historical splash!
Source => fundacionnaovictoria.org

6. The Original Captain Jack Sparrow

Ahoy, me hearties! Did you know that the 16th century version of Captain Jack Sparrow was organizing treasure fleets before it was cool? And he even dabbled in city planning and fort constructions: Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, appointed as adelantado by Philip II, not only founded the first successful European settlement in La Florida but also planned the first regular trans-oceanic convoys, known as the Spanish treasure fleet. Furthermore, he was responsible for creating fortifications and establishing Castilian governmental institutions in the conquered territories.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Hired to Destroy French Forts

Before Phillip II swiped right on Pedro Menéndez de Avilés' LinkedIn profile for the "Settler of Floridas and Destroyer of French Forts" position: Menéndez was actually appointed by the king to lead an expedition in 1565, with the specific goal of taking down French Fort Caroline and establishing Spanish settlements along the coast. In an epic achievement of that goal, Menéndez and his squad successfully sacked the fort, displaying no French mercy, as they annihilated most of the colonists, including the French leader, Jean Ribault.
Source => thejaxsonmag.com

8. The A-Team of the High Seas

Picture this: Pedro Menéndez de Avilés was the medieval maritime equivalent of the A-Team, with a smorgasbord of seven stylish ships, each ready to unleash a little chaos on the high seas: To achieve his conquest and colonization of La Florida, Pedro sailed from Cadiz on June 29, 1565, boasting a royal galleon, longboats, a galley, a brigantine, two caravels, and two additional ships in his fleet. These vessels carried nearly 1,000 passengers, packing plenty of food, tools, and weapons for the adventure ahead.
Source => accioncultural.es

9. Pirate-Smiter turned Missionary

Ahoy, mateys! Captain Pedro Menéndez de Avilés wasn't just your average swashbuckling Spaniard – he was the original OG pirate-smiter turned missionary: Menéndez was a talented naval officer who earned the title of Captain General after battling pirates along Spain's shores before establishing a colony in Florida and attempting to convert Native American tribes to Catholicism through a series of Spanish missions, while also fending off French colonists with equal gusto.
Source => fcit.usf.edu