The first successful colonization attempt by Spain in the New World was the establishment of the settlement of Santo Domingo in 1496, located on the island of Hispaniola (modern-day Dominican Republic and Haiti). Led by Christopher Columbus' brother, Bartholomew Columbus, this settlement served as the first permanent European colony in the Americas. Santo Domingo became the capital of the Spanish Empire in the New World, serving as a base for further exploration and colonization throughout the Caribbean and mainland America. Its foundation marked the beginning of significant Spanish influence, leading to the eventual spread of European culture, language, and governance across the continent.