--- title: Nicaragua — English Wikipedia · full text with trees description: Wikipedia's «Nicaragua», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is a country in Central America, comprising 130,370 km2. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Nicaragua # Nicaragua From Wikipedia, [«Nicaragua»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaragua), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. The English Wikipedia article «Nicaragua», whole: 49 sections, 614 sentences and 12346 words, its 315 notes at the end. The marks in brackets «[n]» are Wikipedia's own, each leading to its note and source; the small number after every sentence leads to the sentence's own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/page/6/) | Facts | | | --- | --- | | | **Republic of Nicaragua · República de Nicaragua ([Spanish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language))** | | | **Motto:** ; "[In God We Trust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust)"[\[2\]](page/6/#ref-2 "note 2") | | | **Anthem:** [Salve a ti, Nicaragua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salve_a_ti,_Nicaragua); "Hail to Thee, Nicaragua" | | | **Dual flag: Rojinegra[\[4\]](page/6/#ref-4 "note 4")** | | Capital and largest city | [Managua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managua) [corpus](../Managua/ "in our corpus"); 12°6′N 86°14′W | | Official languages | [Spanish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaraguan_Spanish) | | Recognized regional languages | [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language); [Miskito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miskito_language); [Rama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama_language); [Sumo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumo_languages); [Moskitian Creole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moskitian_Creole); [Garifuna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garifuna_language); [Rama Cay Creole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama_Cay_Creole) | | [Ethnic groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_group) (2023[\[5\]](page/6/#ref-5 "note 5")) | 69% [Mestizo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mestizo) (mixed [White](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Latin_Americans#Nicaragua), [Indigenous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas#Nicaragua), and [Black](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Nicaraguans)); 17% [White](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Latin_Americans#Nicaragua); 9% [Black](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Nicaraguans); 5% [Indigenous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas#Nicaragua) | | Religion (2015)[\[6\]](page/6/#ref-6 "note 6")[\[7\]](page/6/#ref-7 "note 7") | \*84.4% [Christianity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity); 55.0% [Catholicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Nicaragua); 27.2% [Protestantism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism); 2.2% other [Christian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations); 14.7% [no religion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Latin_America); 0.9% other | | [Demonym](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonym) | [Nicaraguan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaraguans); Pinolero/Pinolera (colloquial) | | Government | Unitary [diarchic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diarchy) presidential [socialist republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_state)[\[10\]](page/6/#ref-10 "note 10") under an [authoritarian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarianism) dictatorship[\[14\]](page/6/#ref-14 "note 14") | | • [Co-Presidents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Nicaragua) | [Daniel Ortega](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Ortega); [Rosario Murillo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosario_Murillo) | | • [President of the National Assembly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_National_Assembly_of_Nicaragua) | [Gustavo Porras Cortés](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Porras_Cortés) | | • [Chief Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Justice_of_Nicaragua) | [Alba Luz Ramos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alba_Luz_Ramos) | | Legislature | [National Assembly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly_%28Nicaragua%29) | | **[Independence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence) from [Spain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Empire), [Mexico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Mexican_Empire) and the [Federal Republic of Central America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Republic_of_Central_America)** | | | • From [New Spain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Spain) | 15 September 1821 | | • From the [First Mexican Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Mexican_Empire) | 1 July 1823 | | • From the [Federal Republic of Central America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Republic_of_Central_America) | 30 April 1838 | | • Recognized | 25 July 1850 | | • [Nicaraguan Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaraguan_Revolution) | 19 July 1979 | | • [Current constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Nicaragua) | 9 January 1987[\[15\]](page/6/#ref-15 "note 15") | | **Area** | | | • Total | 130,375 km² (50,193 sq mi) ([96th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_area)) | | • Water (%) | 7.14 | | **Population** | | | • 2026 estimate | 7,097,329 ([108th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population)) | | • Density | 59/km² (153/sq mi) ([155th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population_density)) | | [GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product) ([PPP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity)) | 2026 estimate | | • Total | $69.515 billion[\[16\]](page/6/#ref-16 "note 16") ([121st](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29)) | | • Per capita | $10,211[\[16\]](page/6/#ref-16 "note 16") ([128th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita)) | | [GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product) (nominal) | 2026 estimate | | • Total | $24.227 billion[\[16\]](page/6/#ref-16 "note 16") ([124th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29)) | | • Per capita | $3,559[\[16\]](page/6/#ref-16 "note 16") ([136th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29_per_capita)) | | [Gini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gini_coefficient) (2014) | 46.2[\[17\]](page/6/#ref-17 "note 17"); high inequality | | [HDI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index) (2023) | 0.706[\[18\]](page/6/#ref-18 "note 18"); high ([123rd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index)) | | Currency | [Córdoba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaraguan_córdoba) ([NIO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_4217)) | | Time zone | [UTC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Universal_Time)−6 ([CST](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Time_Zone)) | | Date format | dd-mm-yyyy | | Calling code | [+505](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/+505) | | [Internet TLD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_code_top-level_domain) | [.ni](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.ni) | Nicaragua,[\[19\]](page/6/#ref-19 "note 19") officially the Republic of Nicaragua,[\[20\]](page/6/#ref-20 "note 20") is a [country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_state) in [Central America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_America), comprising 130,370 km2.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") With a population of 7,097,329 as of 2026,[\[21\]](page/6/#ref-21 "note 21") it is the third-most populous country in Central America after [Guatemala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemala) [corpus](../Guatemala/ "in our corpus") and [Honduras](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduras) [corpus](../Honduras/ "in our corpus"), and the [largest by area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_North_American_countries_by_area) in all of Central America.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Nicaragua is bordered by Honduras to the north, the [Caribbean Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Sea) of the [Atlantic Ocean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean) to the east, [Costa Rica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rica) [corpus](../Costa_Rica/ "in our corpus") to the south, and the [Pacific Ocean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean) to the west.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") The country also shares maritime borders with [El Salvador](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Salvador) [corpus](../El_Salvador/ "in our corpus") to the west and [Colombia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombia) [corpus](../Colombia/ "in our corpus") to the east.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Nicaragua's largest city and national capital is [Managua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managua) [corpus](../Managua/ "in our corpus"), which is also the [fourth-largest city in Central America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_cities_in_Central_America#Largest_cities_proper), with a population of 1,055,247 as of December 2020.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Nicaragua is known as "the breadbasket of Central America" due to having the most fertile soil and arable land in all of Central America.[\[22\]](page/6/#ref-22 "note 22")[\[23\]](page/6/#ref-23 "note 23")[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") The official language is [Spanish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language), though different groups on the Caribbean coast ([Mosquitia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_Coast)) speak their own languages and [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language).[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") The mixture of cultural traditions has generated substantial diversity in folklore, cuisine, music, and literature, including contributions by Nicaraguan poets and writers such as [Rubén Darío](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubén_Darío).[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Originally inhabited by various indigenous cultures since ancient times, the region was conquered by the [Spanish Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Empire) in the 16th century.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Nicaragua gained independence from Spain in 1821.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") The Caribbean region ([Mosquitia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_Coast)) followed a different historical path, being an independent kingdom under British protection from the 17th century until 1860 with the signing of the [Treaty of Managua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Managua), which brought it into a [union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_union) with Nicaragua, while its northernmost part was placed under Honduras by the Wyke-Cruz Treaty of 1859.[\[24\]](page/6/#ref-24 "note 24")[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Since its independence, Nicaragua has undergone periods of political unrest, dictatorship, [American occupation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_occupation_of_Nicaragua) and fiscal crisis, as well as the [Nicaraguan Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaraguan_Revolution) of the 1960s and 1970s and the [Contra War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contras) of the 1980s.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Though nominally a unitary presidential republic, Nicaragua has experienced significant [democratic backsliding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_backsliding) since 2007 under the presidency of [Daniel Ortega](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Ortega), resulting in [large protests in 2018](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Nicaraguan_protests) and a subsequent crackdown.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Following the [2021 election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Nicaraguan_general_election), it has been widely described as an [authoritarian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarianism) [dictatorship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictatorship),[\[25\]](page/6/#ref-25 "note 25")[\[26\]](page/6/#ref-26 "note 26")[\[27\]](page/6/#ref-27 "note 27") and the [next national elections](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Nicaraguan_general_election) were effectively canceled in 2026.[\[28\]](page/6/#ref-28 "note 28")[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") It is a developing country and has the [second lowest GDP per capita (nominal)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Latin_American_and_Caribbean_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29) and [fourth lowest GDP per capita (PPP)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Latin_American_and_Caribbean_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29) among Latin American and Caribbean countries.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2025, Nicaragua was ranked as the second-most corrupt country in Latin America, after [Venezuela](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela) [corpus](../Venezuela/ "in our corpus"), by the [Corruption Perceptions Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index#2020–2024).[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Nicaragua's multiethnic population includes people of [mestizo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mestizo), indigenous, European, and African heritage.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Known as the "land of lakes and volcanoes",[\[29\]](page/6/#ref-29 "note 29")[\[30\]](page/6/#ref-30 "note 30") Nicaragua is also home to the [Bosawás Biosphere Reserve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosawás_Biosphere_Reserve), the second-largest tropical rainforest of the Americas.[\[31\]](page/6/#ref-31 "note 31")[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") The biological diversity, warm tropical climate and active volcanoes have made Nicaragua an increasingly popular [tourist destination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourist_destination).[\[32\]](page/6/#ref-32 "note 32")[\[33\]](page/6/#ref-33 "note 33")[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") Nicaragua is a founding member of the [United Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations)[\[34\]](page/6/#ref-34 "note 34") and is also a member of the [Non-Aligned Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Aligned_Movement),[\[35\]](page/6/#ref-35 "note 35") [Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivarian_Alliance_for_the_Peoples_of_Our_America),[\[36\]](page/6/#ref-36 "note 36") and [Community of Latin American and Caribbean States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_of_Latin_American_and_Caribbean_States).[\[37\]](page/6/#ref-37 "note 37")[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Etymology The etymology of Nicaragua is Nicānāhuac, which was the name the [Nicaraos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicarao_people), a [Nawat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawat)-speaking people, gave to the [Greater Nicoya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Es:_Gran_Nicoya) region of Nicaragua and [Costa Rica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rica) [corpus](../Costa_Rica/ "in our corpus").[\[38\]](page/6/#ref-38 "note 38")[\[39\]](page/6/#ref-39 "note 39")[\[40\]](page/6/#ref-40 "note 40")[\[41\]](page/6/#ref-41 "note 41")[\[42\]](page/6/#ref-42 "note 42")[\[43\]](page/6/#ref-43 "note 43")[\[44\]](page/6/#ref-44 "note 44")[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") It means "here lies Anahuac" in Nahuatl and is a combination of the words "nican" (here),[\[45\]](page/6/#ref-45 "note 45") and "[Ānāhuac](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anahuac_%28Aztec%29)", which is a combination of the words "atl" (water) and "nahuac", a locative meaning "surrounded".[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore, the literal translation of Nicanahuac is "here surrounded by water", which corraborates the theory that the etymology refers to the large bodies of water in and around the country, the [Pacific Ocean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean), lakes [Nicaragua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Nicaragua) and [Xolotlan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Xolotlan), and the rivers and lagoons.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") The name evolved through phonetic changes such as the "n" becoming an r and the ahuac in "anahuac" becoming agua as both "anahuac" and "agua" relate to the concept of water, which would have made it a convenient circumstance for the Spanish in renaming Nicanahuac to Nicaragua.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Previous theories about the country's name came from the following: nican-nahua, which means "here are the Nahuas"; and [nicarao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicarao_%28cacique%29)-agua.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") However, in 2002, it was discovered that the real name of the cacique was Macuilmiquiztli and not Nicarao, ultimately debunking this theory.[\[46\]](page/6/#ref-46 "note 46")[\[47\]](page/6/#ref-47 "note 47")[\[48\]](page/6/#ref-48 "note 48")[\[49\]](page/6/#ref-49 "note 49")[\[40\]](page/6/#ref-40 "note 40")[\[50\]](page/6/#ref-50 "note 50")[\[51\]](page/6/#ref-51 "note 51")[\[52\]](page/6/#ref-52 "note 52")[\[53\]](page/6/#ref-53 "note 53")[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") ## History Main article: [History of Nicaragua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Nicaragua) ### Pre-Columbian history [Paleo-Indians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleo-Indians) first inhabited what is now known as Nicaragua as far back as 12,000 BCE.[\[54\]](page/6/#ref-54 "note 54")[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") In later [pre-Columbian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Columbian_era) times, Nicaragua's [indigenous people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas) were part of the [Intermediate Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediate_Area),[\[55\]](page/6/#ref-55 "note 55") between the [Mesoamerican](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerica) and [Andean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andes) cultural regions, and within the influence of the [Isthmo-Colombian Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isthmo-Colombian_Area).[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Nicaragua's central region and its Caribbean coast were inhabited by [Macro-Chibchan language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macro-Chibchan_languages) ethnic groups such as the [Miskito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miskito_people), [Rama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama_people), [Mayangna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayagna), and [Matagalpas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacaopera_people).[\[55\]](page/6/#ref-55 "note 55")[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") They had coalesced in Central America and migrated both to and from present-day northern Colombia and nearby areas.[\[56\]](page/6/#ref-56 "note 56")[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Their food came primarily from hunting and gathering, but also fishing and [slash-and-burn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash-and-burn) agriculture.[\[55\]](page/6/#ref-55 "note 55")[\[57\]](page/6/#ref-57 "note 57")[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58")[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") At the end of the 15th century, western Nicaragua was inhabited by several indigenous peoples related by culture to the Mesoamerican civilizations of the [Aztec](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztecs) and [Maya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_peoples), and by language to the [Mesoamerican language area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_language_area).[\[59\]](page/6/#ref-59 "note 59")[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Mangue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangue_people), or Chorotega, were an ethnic group who had arrived in Nicaragua from what is now the Mexican state of [Chiapas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiapas) sometime around 800 CE.[\[52\]](page/6/#ref-52 "note 52")[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58")[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Nicarao people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicarao_people) were a branch of [Nahuas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nahuas) who spoke the [Nawat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawat_language) dialect and also came from Chiapas, around 1200 CE.[\[60\]](page/6/#ref-60 "note 60")[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") Prior to that, the Nicaraos had been associated with the [Toltec](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toltec) civilization.[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58")[\[60\]](page/6/#ref-60 "note 60")[\[61\]](page/6/#ref-61 "note 61")[\[62\]](page/6/#ref-62 "note 62")[\[63\]](page/6/#ref-63 "note 63")[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Both Chorotegas and Nicaraos originated in Mexico's [Cholula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholula_%28Mesoamerican_site%29) valley,[\[60\]](page/6/#ref-60 "note 60") and migrated south.[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58")[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") A third group, the [Subtiabas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtiaba_language), were an [Oto-Manguean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oto-Manguean_languages) people who migrated from the Mexican state of [Guerrero](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrero) around 1200 CE.[\[64\]](page/6/#ref-64 "note 64")[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Additionally, there were trade-related colonies in Nicaragua set up by the Aztecs starting in the 14th century.[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58")[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Spanish colonial era (1523–1821) Further information: [Spanish colonization of the Americas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_colonization_of_the_Americas), [Spanish conquest of Nicaragua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_conquest_of_Nicaragua) In 1502, on his fourth voyage, [Christopher Columbus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus) became the first European known to have reached what is now Nicaragua as he sailed southeast toward the [Isthmus of Panama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isthmus_of_Panama).[\[55\]](page/6/#ref-55 "note 55")[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58")[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Columbus explored the [Mosquito Coast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_Coast) on the Atlantic side of Nicaragua[\[65\]](page/6/#ref-65 "note 65") but did not encounter any indigenous people.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") 20 years later, the Spaniards returned to Nicaragua, this time to its southwestern part.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") The first attempt to conquer Nicaragua was by the conquistador [Gil González Dávila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_González_Dávila),[\[66\]](page/6/#ref-66 "note 66") who had arrived in Panama in January 1520.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1522, González Dávila ventured to the area that later became the [Rivas Department](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivas_Department) of Nicaragua.[\[55\]](page/6/#ref-55 "note 55")[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58")[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") There he encountered an indigenous Nahua tribe led by chief Macuilmiquiztli, whose name has sometimes been erroneously referred to as "[Nicarao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicarao_%28cacique%29)" or "Nicaragua".[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") The tribe's capital was Quauhcapolca.[\[67\]](page/6/#ref-67 "note 67")[\[68\]](page/6/#ref-68 "note 68")[\[69\]](page/6/#ref-69 "note 69")[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") González Dávila conversed with Macuilmiquiztli thanks to two indigenous interpreters who had learned Spanish, whom he had brought along.[\[70\]](page/6/#ref-70 "note 70")[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") After exploring and gathering gold[\[67\]](page/6/#ref-67 "note 67")[\[55\]](page/6/#ref-55 "note 55")[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58") in the fertile western valleys, González Dávila and his men were attacked and driven off by the Chorotega, led by chief [Diriangén](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diriangen).[\[67\]](page/6/#ref-67 "note 67")[\[71\]](page/6/#ref-71 "note 71")[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") The Spanish tried to convert the tribes to Christianity; Macuilmiquiztli's tribe was baptized,[\[67\]](page/6/#ref-67 "note 67")[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58") but Diriangén was openly hostile to the Spaniards.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Western Nicaragua, at the Pacific Coast, became a port and shipbuilding facility for the [Galleons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Galleon) plying the waters between [Manila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila) [corpus](../Manila/ "in our corpus") and [Acapulco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acapulco).[\[72\]](page/6/#ref-72 "note 72")[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1524, the first Spanish permanent settlements were founded.[\[66\]](page/6/#ref-66 "note 66")[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") That year, the conquistador [Francisco Hernández de Córdoba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Hernández_de_Córdoba_%28founder_of_Nicaragua%29) founded two of Nicaragua's main cities: [Granada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granada,_Nicaragua) on [Lake Nicaragua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Nicaragua), and then [León](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/León,_Nicaragua), west of [Lake Managua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Managua).[\[55\]](page/6/#ref-55 "note 55")[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58")[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Córdoba soon built defenses for the cities and fought against incursions by other conquistadors.[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58")[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Córdoba was later publicly beheaded for having defied his superior, [Pedro Arias Dávila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Arias_Dávila).[\[55\]](page/6/#ref-55 "note 55")[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") Córdoba's tomb and remains were discovered in 2000 in the [ruins of León Viejo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/León_Viejo).[\[73\]](page/6/#ref-73 "note 73")[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") The clashes among Spanish forces did not impede their destruction of the indigenous people and their culture.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") The series of battles came to be known as the "War of the Captains".[\[74\]](page/6/#ref-74 "note 74")[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Pedro Arias Dávila was a winner;[\[55\]](page/6/#ref-55 "note 55") although he lost control of Panama, he moved to Nicaragua and established his base in León.[\[75\]](page/6/#ref-75 "note 75")[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1527, León became the capital of the colony.[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58")[\[75\]](page/6/#ref-75 "note 75")[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") Through diplomacy, Arias Dávila became the colony's first governor.[\[73\]](page/6/#ref-73 "note 73")[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Without women in their parties,[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58") the Spanish conquerors took Nahua and Chorotega wives and partners, beginning the multiethnic mix of indigenous and European stock now known as "[mestizo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mestizo)", which constitutes the great majority of the population in western Nicaragua.[\[59\]](page/6/#ref-59 "note 59")[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Many indigenous people were killed by European [infectious diseases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infectious_disease), compounded by neglect by the Spaniards, who controlled their subsistence.[\[66\]](page/6/#ref-66 "note 66")[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Many other indigenous peoples were captured and transported as slaves to Panama and Peru between 1526 and 1540.[\[55\]](page/6/#ref-55 "note 55")[\[58\]](page/6/#ref-58 "note 58")[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1610, the [Momotombo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momotombo) volcano erupted, destroying the city of León.[\[76\]](page/6/#ref-76 "note 76")[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") The city was rebuilt northwest of the original,[\[75\]](page/6/#ref-75 "note 75")[\[76\]](page/6/#ref-76 "note 76") which is now known as the [ruins of León Viejo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/León_Viejo).[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") During the [American Revolutionary War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War), Central America was subject to conflict between Britain and Spain.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") British navy admiral [Horatio Nelson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Nelson) led expeditions in the [Battle of San Fernando de Omoa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_San_Fernando_de_Omoa) in 1779 and on the [San Juan River in 1780](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_Expedition_%281780%29), the latter of which had temporary success before being abandoned due to disease.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Independent Nicaragua (1821–1909) See also: [History of Nicaragua § Fight for independence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Nicaragua#Fight_for_independence) The [Act of Independence of Central America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Independence_of_Central_America) dissolved the [Captaincy General of Guatemala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captaincy_General_of_Guatemala) in September 1821, and Nicaragua soon [became part](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_America_under_Mexican_rule) of the [First Mexican Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Mexican_Empire).[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") In July 1823, after the overthrow of the Mexican monarchy in March of the same year, Nicaragua joined the newly formed [United Provinces of Central America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Republic_of_Central_America), a country later known as the Federal Republic of Central America.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Nicaragua definitively became an independent republic in 1838.[\[77\]](page/6/#ref-77 "note 77")[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") The early years of independence were characterized by rivalry between the [Liberal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutionalist_Liberal_Party) elite of León and the [Conservative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Party_%28Nicaragua%29) elite of Granada, which often degenerated into civil war, particularly during the 1840s and 1850s.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") [Managua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managua) [corpus](../Managua/ "in our corpus") rose to undisputed preeminence as the nation's capital in 1852 to allay the rivalry between the two feuding cities.[\[78\]](page/6/#ref-78 "note 78")[\[79\]](page/6/#ref-79 "note 79")[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Following the start of the [California Gold Rush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush) in 1848, Nicaragua provided a route for travelers from the eastern United States to journey to [California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California) by sea, via the [San Juan River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_River_%28Nicaragua%29) and Lake Nicaragua.[\[55\]](page/6/#ref-55 "note 55")[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/page/6/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Nicaragua/page/2/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)