The territory (together with a part of Florida) was declared as Spanish territory by Ponance de Leon in 1512, but the first Europeans that paid the territory a visit never cared to name it. Nor was it colonized by any Spaniards, It was largely just proclaimed for a future that never came. But as French settlers arrived in 1562, they were soon thrown out by the Spaniards. However it was during this brief time that "Carolina" first was named, and the name referred to King Charles IX of France. The territory was thereafter left to native Americans until King Charles II of England, after the English Restoration, in 1660 he gave all land between the 34th and 36th parallels to eight Englishmen. The territory was named after the English king instead, Which however had no impact on the spelling. In 1729 British politicians regretted this gift and redeemed the heirs of the first eight British inhabitants. Now the carolina became divided into North Carolina and South Carolina, which both became British colonies. Both the new colonies were among the thirteen first states of the United States.
