The recorded history of Texas begins with the arrival of the first Spanish conquistadors in the region of North America now known as Texas in , who found the region occupied by numerous Native American tribes. The colony was killed off by Native Americans after three years, but Spanish authorities felt pressed to establish settlements to keep their claim to the land. Several Roman Catholic missions were established in East Texas ; they were abandoned in Twenty years later, concerned with the continued French presence in neighboring Louisiana , Spanish authorities again tried to colonize Texas.