Francisco Fernández de Córdoba (Nicaragua)

Francisco Fernández de Córdoba (Nicaragua) (1475?-1526), Spanish explorer of Nicaragua. A lieutenant of Pedrarias Dávila, governor of Panama, Fernández was sent in 1522 to explore and settle the Pacific coast north of the Isthmus of Panama. Landing on the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica, he moved inland and explored the Lake of Nicaragua, where he established two settlements: Granada, on the southwestern shore of the lake, and León, between the lake and the coast.

At León, Fernández became involved in a three-party contest for control of Honduras and Nicaragua, with Spanish conquistador Gil González Dávila and Cristobal de Olid, a former soldier of conquistador Hernán Cortés. González was easily driven back, and Cortés, seeking an ally against Olid, offered Fernández support. With Cortés’s assurance Fernández declared himself independent governor of Nicaragua. However, a party of his own men led by Hernando de Soto escaped and returned to report to Pedrarias in Panama. When Pedrarias led a seaborne force against Fernández, Cortés went back on his promise of support. Fernández was forced to surrender to Pedrarias and was beheaded. As a result, possession of Honduras went temporarily to New Spain and possession of Nicaragua to Panama.