On May 16, 1571 the Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi declared the region a royal encomienda, or royal land grant. Spanish colonizers settled in the most populated area of the place (present day Kawit), they called it Cavite. The old "Tangway" at the tip of the Cavite Peninsula, across Bacoor Bay was referred to as "Cavite la Punta" meaning "Point of Cavite" or Cavite Point. Upon discovering that because of its deep waters, Cavite la Punta was a suitable place for the repair and construction of Spanish ships and galleon, the Spanish moved their settlement there and called it "Cavite Nuevo" (New Cavite) or plainly "Cavite", while the first settlement was renamed "Cavite Viejo" (and in the early 20th century, regained its former name, Kawit).