The Miskito, who live in Nicaragua's Caribbean…

The Miskito, who live in Nicaragua's Caribbean lowlands, begin to be exploited by English "filibusters" (irregular military adventurers) intent on encroaching on Spanish landowners.

In 1687 the English governor of Jamaica names a Miskito who is one of his prisoners, "King of the Mosquitia Nation," and declares the region to be under the protection of the English crown.

This event marks the beginning of a long rivalry between Spanish (and later Nicaraguan) and British authorities over the sovereignty of the Caribbean coast, which will effectively remain under British control until the end of the nineteenth century.