Their commonality was their role in the French-Spanish rivalry for control of the southeastern coast of North America.
Here's a breakdown:
* Jean Ribaut (French): A Huguenot explorer and soldier, he established the first French settlement in what is now the United States, Fort Caroline, near present-day Jacksonville, Florida, in 1562. He was aiming to establish a French colony and exploit the region's resources.
* Pedro Menéndez de Avilés (Spanish): A Spanish admiral and explorer, he was tasked by King Philip II of Spain to establish a Spanish settlement in Florida and to expel the French from the area. In 1565, he founded the fortified city of St. Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the United States.
The Conflict:
The rivalry between France and Spain led to a bloody confrontation in Florida. Menéndez, acting on orders from the Spanish crown, attacked and massacred the French settlers at Fort Caroline in 1565. This event became known as the "Matanzas Massacre," and it marked a turning point in the struggle for control of Florida.
Therefore, while their ultimate goals were different (French colonization vs. Spanish dominance), Ribaut and Menéndez were both players in the same power struggle for a territory that held significant strategic and economic value.