Cristobal de Olid, born in Zaragoza, had…

Cristobal de Olid, born in Zaragoza, had grown up in the household of the governor of Cuba, Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar.

In 1518 Velázquez had sent Olid to relieve Juan de Grijalva, but en route a hurricane had caused the loss of Olid's anchors, and he returned to Cuba.

On January 10, 1519, Olid had sailed with Hernán Cortés' fleet, as his quartermaster, and had taken an active part in the conquest of Mexico.

He had fought at the Battle of Otumba on July 14, 1520, and has also taken part in the campaign against the Purépechas.

During the Siege of Tenochtitlan, Cristobal had been one of Cortes' key captains, playing a critical role in the capture of Xochimilco.

Cristobal had ben the Texcoco camp commander during the trial of Antonio de Villafana, for his plot to assassinate Cortes.

Commanding one of four forces under Cortes, Cristobal has acted as quartermaster.

He had helped save Cortes at one point, when he was seized by the Mexicans in one of the causeway battles.

Cortes had sent Olid to Michoacan, after he had married a Portuguese lady.

In 1522, Olid had led Spanish soldiers with Tlaxcalan allies in the conquests of Jalisco and Colima in West Mexico.

Cortés makes Olid the leader of an expedition to conquer Honduras in 1523, but while resupplying in Havana, Olid (at a suggestion by Governor Velázquez of Cuba) declares his independence from Spain and sets out to conquer Honduras for himself.