Spanish settlement in the original city of San Germ�n occurred early in the conquest and colonization of Puerto Rico. After the destruction of a small early settlement near modern-day Anasco during a Ta�no uprising which started in February 1511, the new settlement was built at Guayanilla and named after Germaine of Foix, the new queen of King Fernando. This town was attacked by French corsairs in August 1528, May 1538 and 1554. The construction of a small fort began on 1540, but work stopped on 1546, when the population of the town began moving inland to the current modern location.
An early written reference to the new town occurs in 1573. A letter sent to Spain's king Philip II mentions a city with the names of Nueva Salamanca and San Germ�n. Spanish conquerors used the name Nueva Salamanca to honor the city of Salamanca in Spain.
On May 12, 1570, the Royal Audience of Santo Domingo (see Audiencia) ordered that both the populations of San Germ�n and Santa Maria de Guadianilla be merged into a single city due to the constant attacks. The new city was built on the hills of Santa Marta, next to the Guanajibo River in 1573. Its official name was Nueva Villa de Salamanca, named after the city of Salamanca, in Spain. However, the population would call the city San Germ�n el Nuevo (The New San Germ�n) and, eventually, the Villa de San Germ�n (The Village of San Germ�n).
San Germ�n is also know as the founding city of towns, given the fact that in 1514 the Spanish crown separated the island in two administrative territories (Parties). The borders of the two parties were establishes as the Camuy River in the north and the Jacagua river to the south. They were named the San Juan Party and the San Germ�n Party.
