Why did the Spanish settle St$.$ Augustine?

a$)$ As the French and English had proven far more successful during the early colonial period and had nearly driven the Spanish off the continent, the Spanish needed a temporary resting place before returning to Europe.

b$)$ Because the Spanish government had forbidden intermarriage between the Spanish settlers and Native Americans, the Spanish needed to build a large settlement to house the great influx of European women who had since arrived.

c$)$ Due to their anti$-$Protestant sentiment as Catholics and their expansionist tendencies, the Spanish wished to stop the efforts of French Huguenots or Protestants to form a colony in northern Florida.

d$)$ Due to their eagerness to protect Native Americans along the Gulf Coast from French mistreatment and to train Native Americans in the Spanish military, the Spanish sought to build a fort equipped with sophisticated military technology.