Diego de Nicuesa

Diego de Nicuesa (* 1464 in Baeza (Jaén ), † 1511 Caribbean between Panama and Santo Domingo ) was a Spanish conquistador and explorer. He came from an influential family low nobility. On June 9, 1508, he was named in the contracts of Ferdinand II ( the Catholic ) convened Junta of Burgos Governor of Veragua. In this region, which extended over the Caribbean coast of the present states of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and western Panama, large gold deposits were suspected. After he had taken up his governorship in 1510, he undertook a journey of exploration along the coast, but his expedition was marred by mishaps, and for a time he was stranded with a small group of men on the island of Cayo de Agua.

At the Panamanian Atlantic coast, he founded the town of Nombre de Dios. The settlers were suffering from hunger, disease and attack by hostile Indians. Finally, they were of Colmenares, a comrade who brought provisions saved. Colmenares Nicuesa informed about the fact that Vasco Núñez de Balboa had in Nicuesas territory the town of Santa María la Antigua del Darién founded and thus rebelled against Nicuesa. Then Nicuesa rushed to Santa María to punish Núñez de Balboa and the local settlers and bring the city under his control.

As the settlers of Santa María were warned regarding the intent Nicuesas, he was denied entrance to the city. While most men Nicuesas could remain in Balboa's colony, he himself was sent and 17 loyal followers of the sea. So sailed with this Nicuesa towards Santo Domingo, where they probably suffered shipwreck on the way there and all the crew was drowned.

• Governor (Panama)
• Discoverer (16th century)
• Conquistador
• Military history of Latin America
• Born in 1464
• Died in 1511
• Man