Nicaragua's Caribbean coast is first seen by Spanish explorers in 1502.

It is not until 1522, however, that a formal military expedition, under Gil Gonzalez Davila, leads to the Spanish conquest of Nicaraguan territory.

Gonzalez launches an expedition from Panama, arriving in Nicaragua through Costa Rica.

After suffering both illness and torrential rains, he reaches the land governed by the powerful chief Nicoya, who gives Gonzalez and his men a warm welcome.

Nicoya and six thousand of his people shortly embrace the Roman Catholic faith.

Gonzalez continues his exploration and arrives in the next settlement, which is governed by a chief named Nicaragua, or Nicarao, after whom the country is named.

Chief Nicaragua receives Gonzalez as a friend and gives him large quantities of gold.

Perhaps to placate the Spanish, Nicaragua also converts to Roman Catholicism, as do more than none thousand members of his tribe.

All are baptized within eight days.

Confident of further success, Gonzalez moves on to the interior, where he encounters resistance from an army of three thousand Niquirano, led by another of their chiefs, Diriagen.

Gonzalez retreats and travels south to the coast, returning to Panama with large quantities of gold and pearls.