For their livelihood Floridians depended almost entirely upon a yearly subsidy (situado) of money and supplies shipped from New Spain. Until his death Pedro Menendez de Aviles supported and maintained the settlement, but this obligation shifted to the crown in 1574 and remained a royal responsibility throughout the colonial period. Philip II originally awarded 24,000 ducats (approximately 33,000 pesos) for the wages and supplies needed by the 150 soldiers stationed in Florida. When he doubled the garrison in 1578... (Tepaske GSF)