Diego de Nicuesa

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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 of low nobility . On June 9, 1508, he was appointed governor of Veragua in the treaties of the junta of Burgos convened by Ferdinand II (the Catholic) . In this region, which stretched over the Caribbean coast of today's states Nicaragua , Costa Rica and western Panama, large gold deposits were suspected. After assuming governorship in 1510, he went on a scouting tour of the coast, but his expedition was marred by mishaps and for a time he was stranded with a small group of men on Cayo de Agua Island .

He founded the city of Nombre de Dios on the Panamanian Atlantic coast . The settlers suffered from hunger, disease and attacks by hostile Indians. Eventually they were rescued by Colmenares, a comrade who brought provisions. Colmenares informed Nicuesa that Vasco Núñez de Balboa had founded the city of Santa María la Antigua del Darién in Nicuesa's territory and thus rebelled against Nicuesa. Nicuesa then rushed to Santa María to punish Núñez de Balboa and the settlers there and to bring the city under his control.

Warning of Nicuesa's intentions, the Santa María settlers were refused entry into the city. While most of Nicuesa's men were able to stay in Balboa's colony, he himself and 17 loyal followers were sent out to sea. So they sailed with Nicuesa towards Santo Domingo , where they probably suffered shipwreck on the way there and the entire crew drowned.