From 1685 until 1688, a French colony, Fort Saint Louis, exists near what is now Inez, Texas, USA.

Explorer Robert Cavalier de La Salle had intended to found the colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River, but inaccurate maps and navigational errors cause his ships to instead anchor 400 miles (650 km) west, off the coast of Texas near Matagorda Bay.The colony faced numerous difficulties during its brief existence, including hostile Native Americans, epidemics, and harsh conditions.

Mindful of his original mission, La Salle leads several expeditions to find the Mississippi River.

These do not succeed; instead, La Salle exploreds much of the Rio Grande and parts of East Texas.

During one of his absences in 1686, the colony's last ship is wrecked, leaving the colonists unable to obtain supplies from the French colonies in the Caribbean Sea.

As conditions deteriorate, La Salle realizes the colony can only survive with help from French settlements in Illinois Country.

His last expedition ends along the Brazos River in early 1687 when La Salle and five of his men are murdered by rivals in the group.

Although a handful of men reaches Illinois, help never arrives.

The remaining members of the colony are killed or captured during a Karankawa raid in late 1688.

Although the colony lasts only three years, its existence establishes France's claim to possession of the region that is now Texas, and later supports the claim by the United States to the region as part of the Louisiana Purchase.Spain learns of La Salle's mission in 1686.

Concerned that the French colony could threaten Spain's control over New Spain and the southern portion of North America, Spanish authorities funds multiple expeditions to find and eliminate the settlement.

The unsuccessful expeditions help Spain to better understand the geography of the Gulf Coast region.

When the Spanish finally discover the remains of the French settlement in 1689, they bury the cannons and burn the buildings.

Years later, Spanish authorities build a presidio at the same location.

When the Spanish presidio ceases to exist, the site of the French settlement is forgotten.

It is rediscovered in 1996, and the area is now an archaeological site.