The territory that today occupies the state of Alabama

he territory that today occupies the state of Alabama was inhabited by the American Indians of the Cherokee , Creek (in Spanish "crics"), Choctaw ("chactas") and Chickasaw ("chicazas") tribes. Following the discoveries of Juan Ponce de León and Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, the entire present-day southeastern United States was called Spanish Florida (including the present-day states of Florida , Georgia , South Carolina , North Carolina , Mississippi , and Alabama). The first expedition that entered Alabama was the Spanish expedition of Hernando de Soto , in 1540, who faced the natives led by Tascalusa in the Battle of Mabila (present-day Mobile County ). Guido de las Bazares explored the coast in 1558, but it was Tristán de Luna who attempted to create the first permanent settlement in Mobile Bay . This establishment failed after being destroyed by a hurricane . More than a century later, in 1701, it was the French who entered the territory to create Fort Louis de la Mobile . This settlement was followed by other forts near the river currents. France consolidated the center of the Louisiana colony in Mobile , until the capital of said colony was moved in 1722 to New Orleans . The strategic port of Mobile, and the lands inland of Alabama, were coveted by the French, Spanish and English. For this reason, in 1763 the English managed to obtain, through the Treaty of Paris - which ended the Seven Years' War - the lands of Alabama, as part of West Florida , one of the two provinces into which the former colony was divided. Spanish from Florida. More than a century later, in 1701, it was the French who entered the territory to create Fort Louis de la Mobile . This settlement was followed by other forts near the river currents. France consolidated the center of the Louisiana colony in Mobile , until the capital of said colony was moved in 1722 to New Orleans.