Who were the colonisers of the dominican republic in early history?

The Dominican Republic was initially colonized by Spain, with Christopher Columbus landing on the island of Hispaniola in 1492. The Spanish established the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, Santo Domingo, in 1496. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the island faced French and British incursions, particularly in the western part, leading to the rise of French control over what is now Haiti. Ultimately, Spain retained control of the eastern part, which became the Dominican Republic after gaining independence.