Henry Percy, an associate of John of…

The nearly simultaneous invasions of Honduras in 1524 by rival Spanish expeditions begins an era of conflict among rival Spanish claimants as well as with the indigenous population.

The major initial expeditions are led by González Dávila, who hoped to carve out a territory for his own rule, and by Cristóbal de Olid, who is dispatched from Cuba by Cortés.

Once in Honduras, however, Olid succumbs to personal ambition and attempts to establish his own independent authority.

Word of this reaches Cortés in Mexico, and to restore his own authority, he orders yet another expedition, this one under the command of Francisco de Las Casas.

Then, doubting the trustworthiness of any subordinate, Cortés sets out for Honduras himself.

The situation is further complicated by the entry into Honduras of expeditions from Guatemala under Pedro de Alvarado and from Nicaragua under Hernando de Soto.

Olid seems to gain the upper hand in the initial struggle for power in Hoinduras, capturing both Gonzalez Davila and Las Casas.

His captives, however, having managed to subvert the loyalty of some of Olid's men, take Olid prisoner, then promptly behead him.

None of the conspirators, although later condemned for this action by a Mexican court, will ever suffer any real punishment.

The arrival of Cortés in Honduras in 1525 temporarily restores some order to the Spanish conquest.

He establishes his own authority over the rival claimants, obtain the submission of numerous indigenous chiefs, and tries to promote the creation of Spanish towns.

His own headquarters is located at Trujillo on the Caribbean coast.

Cortes returns to Mexico in April 1526, and the remaining Spaniards resume their strife.

Some order is again restored in October of this year when the first royal governor, Diego Lopez de Salcedo, arrives.

Lopez de Salcedo's policies, however, drive many indigenous people, once pacified by Cortes, into open revolt.

His attempt to extend his jurisdiction into Nicaragua results in his imprisonment by the authorities there.

After agreeing to a Nicaraguan-imposed definition of the boundary between the two provinces, Lopez de Salcedo is released but does not return to Honduras until 1529.