Spanish wars of colonization in the Americas
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Were a series of expeditions and military campaigns by Spanish conquistadores and discoverers to conquer territories in central and southern America.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
Between 1492 and 1504, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus led four Spanish transatlantic maritime expeditions in the Americas. The first voyage marked the European discovery of the American Continent and is also widely considered the end of the Middle Ages.
January 1494: Christopher Columbus arrives in Antigua (1493) and names the island in honour of the "Virgin of the Old Cathedral" found in Seville Cathedral in southern Spain.
January 1499: In 1498, Christopher Columbus discovered and claimed Saint Barthélemy for Spain during his third voyage to the Americas. The island later became part of the Spanish America territory.
November 1493: In 1493, Christopher Columbus likely saw the island of Sint Estatius, which later became part of Spanish America. Columbus was an Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for widespread European exploration and the eventual colonization of the Americas.
January 1494: In 1493, Christopher Columbus arrived at St. Christoph (now St. Kitts) and claimed the island for Spain during his second voyage to the Americas.
January 1494: Vieques, a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico, was reportedly discovered by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. The territory was then claimed by Spanish America as part of their colonial holdings.
November 1493: Marie-Galante was the second island encountered by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage in 1493, after Dominica. The territory was eventually claimed by Spanish America.
November 1493: During his second expedition for America, Christopher Columbus discovered the small archipelago Îles des Saintes in 1493. The territory went to Spanish America.
November 1493: Christopher Columbus discovers the Island of Saint Martin.
November 1493: In 1493, Christopher Columbus landed on Saint-Croix (Santa Cruz) during his second voyage to the Americas. He claimed the territory for Spanish America, marking the beginning of European colonization in the Caribbean.
December 1493: Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sponsored by the Spanish monarchy, was the first European to see Guadeloupe in November 1493 during his second voyage to the Americas. He named the island after a Spanish monastery.
January 1494: Christopher Columbus sailed past St. John on his second voyage in 1493.
January 1495: The island of Jamaica came under Spanish rule in 1494 following the arrival of the famous explorer Christopher Columbus. Columbus claimed the territory for the Spanish crown during his second voyage to the Americas.
July 1502: Christopher Columbu discovered Las Guanajas Islands (Bay Islands, modern-day Honduras) on July 30, 1502. The Admiral named it 'Isle of Pines', and claimed it for Spain.
May 1503: The Cayman Islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus during his final voyage to the Americas in 1503. The territory was later claimed by Spanish America.
January 1493: Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, was the first European to see the islands of the Bahamas, making his first landfall in the 'New World' in 1492. Columbus's arrival marked the beginning of Spanish colonization in the Americas.
November 1493: In 1493, Christopher Columbus sighted the island of Saba during his second voyage to the Americas. Saba is a small Caribbean island that was eventually claimed by the Spanish as part of their territories in the Americas.
October 1492: Christopher Columbus took possession of the Island of Hispaniola.
October 1492: Christopher Columbus took possession of the island of Hispaniola.
Was the conquest of the central Andean highlands of Colombia by the Spanish conquistadors.
January 1537: San Diego (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
April 1540: Decapitation of the last zaque Aquiminzaque, Hernán Pérez de Quesada. Aquiminzaque was the ruler of the Muisca Confederation in present-day Colombia. Hernán Pérez de Quesada was a Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that conquered the Muisca territory in 1540.
January 1537: La Paz (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: Gamarra (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
August 1538: Foundation of Bogotá by the Spanish.
January 1537: Urumita (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
December 1536: Barrancabermeja (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: Chimichagua (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: La Jagua del Pilar (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: Sompallón (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: Aguachica (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
April 1537: Vélez (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
August 1537: Hunza conquered by spain.
September 1537: An expedition in the Tenza valley (Colombia) results in the Spanish conquest of the area.
April 1537: Spanish conquest of Funza (Bacatá).
January 1537: Sabana de Torres (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1510: San Sebastián de Urabá, today Necoclí (Colombia), was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
October 1510: Santa María la Antigua del Darién, today Unguía (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
December 1510: Turbaco (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
March 1536: Jamundí (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: Riohacha (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: San Juan del Cesar (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: Villanueva (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: Chiriguaná (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: Tamalameque (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: La Gloria (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: Rionegro (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: Puerto Wilches (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
April 1537: Chipatá (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
September 1537: Sogamoso conquered by spain.
August 1538: An alliance of Spanish and indigenous forces defeated the Muisca at the Battle of Tocarema.
May 1537: Aguada (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
May 1502: Santa Cruz was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
January 1537: San Martín (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
March 1537: Simacota (Colombia) was founded by the Spanish during the conquest of the Muisca Confederation.
Was a war between Spain and the native Tainos of Puerto Rico.
June 1512: Spanish commander Álvaro de Saavedra entered into the lands of Guayama.
September 1513: Spanish commander Alonso de Mendoza led an incursion into the lands of Chief Hayuya.
June 1512: The Spanish raided the territories of the Taino Orocobix (present day municipalities of Aibonito, Orocovis, Barranquitas, Morovis and Corozal in Puerto Rico).
July 1512: The Spanish Army leaves the domains of chief Agüeybana II.
June 1512: The Spanish army entered the domains of chief Agüeybana II in modern-day Guayanilla, Puerto Rico.
October 1513: End of the incursion by Spanish forces in the lands of Hayuya Chief.
March 1511: Ponce de León led nearly a hundred Spaniards in a battle against the Taíno in modern-day Descalabrado (17°59′52″N 66°25′24″W).
April 1511: End of the incursion by Spanish commander Ponce de León in the domain of Urayoán Chief at Yahuecas.
July 1512: The Spanish forces left the lands of Guayama.
June 1513: In 1513, the Taíno people launched a devastating attack on Caparra, the Spanish capital of the main island. Caparra was founded by Juan Ponce de León and served as an important settlement in Puerto Rico. The attack marked a significant event in the conflict between the Spanish colonizers and the indigenous Taíno population.
August 1513: Spanish forces led by Diego Colón and Juan González entered the lands of Guayaney tribe (modern-day Luqullo and Humacao in Puerto Rico).
November 1513: In 1513, Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León led an incursion against the indigenous Taino settlement of Jayuya in present-day Puerto Rico. This was part of the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
August 1512: In July, Spanish conquistador Juan Gil attacked the domain of Agüeybana II.
July 1513: The lands of chieftain Orocobix (present day municipalities of Aibonito, Orocovis, Barranquitas, Morovis and Corozal in Puerto Rico) were incursioned by Spanish forces.
March 1511: Spanish commander Ponce de León led an incursion into the domain of Urayoán Chief at Yahuecas.
July 1512: The Spanish raided the territories of the Taino Orocobix (present day municipalities of Aibonito, Orocovis, Barranquitas, Morovis and Corozal in Puerto Rico).
September 1512: In 1512, Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León led another incursion into the terrains of Orocobix, a region inhabited by the Taíno people in present-day Puerto Rico. This expedition was part of the Spanish colonization efforts in the Caribbean.
January 1516: Between 1514 and 1515, the Spanish made advances into the Daguao, pushing the Taínos to seek refuge in the Lesser Antilles, with the presence of Agüeybana II being reported at Guadeloupe. Puerto Rico was completely submitted by the Spanish.
February 1513: The Spanish led by Diego Guilarte de Salazar conquered Guánica, where they set camp.
August 1512: In 1512, Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León led another incursion into the terrains of Orocobix, a region inhabited by the Taíno people in present-day Puerto Rico. This expedition was part of the Spanish colonization efforts in the Caribbean.
November 1513: Cristóbal de Mendoza led an incursion that intended to eliminate the population of Vieques.
Was a military campaign waged by Spanish conquistarod Hernán Cortés along with indigenous allies to conquer the Aztec Empire.
January 1522: By 1510 most of the Caribbean was already under Spanish control.
September 1519: On their arrival in Cempoala, the Spanish were greeted by 20 dignitaries and cheering townsfolk.
September 1519: On their arrival in Cempoala, the Spaniards were greeted by 20 dignitaries and cheering townsfolk. Spanish conquistado Cortés quickly persuaded the Totonac chiefs to rebel against the Aztecs, taking prisoner five of Moctezuma's tax collectors.
December 1519: The Spanish led by Cortés entered Cholula. The city was taken without active resistance by the locals.
July 1520: After the massacre in the great temple, led by Hernán Cortés and his men, the Spanish forces retreated from Tenochtitlan in 1520. The Aztec Empire, under the leadership of Emperor Moctezuma II, faced a significant challenge as they regrouped and strategized with their allies in Tlaxcala.
January 1521: In 1520, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés led the conquest of Cempoala, a city in present-day Mexico. Cempoala was an important Totonac settlement and played a key role in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. The conquest of Cempoala marked a significant victory for the Spanish in their colonization of the Americas.
August 1521: The Fall of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, was a decisive event in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
January 1522: In 1521, the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes led the conquest of Tilantongo, a powerful Mixtec city in present-day Mexico. The territory was then incorporated into the Spanish America colony, marking the beginning of Spanish rule in the region.
January 1522: At the time of the Spanish conquest, Cuilapan was a large multi-ethnic population center of 43,000 people and one of the centers of the political, economic and cultural life of the central valleys of Oaxaca.
November 1519: By 14 November 1519 Tenochtitlan was in Spanish hands and Moctezuma was Cortés' prisoner as insurance against any further resistance.
May 1519: Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, landed his expedition force on the coast of modern-day Veracruz in April 1519.
October 1519: The Tlaxcala entered a vassalage-alliance with the Spanish.
January 1522: In 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes led the conquest of Mitla, a Zapotec archaeological site in present-day Mexico. This marked the incorporation of Mitla into the Spanish America territory, as part of the larger colonization efforts in the region.
January 1522: In 1521, the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés led the conquest of Tlaxiaco, a town in present-day Mexico. This event marked the incorporation of Tlaxiaco into the Spanish America territory, as part of the larger Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
January 1522: In 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes led the conquest of Tututepec, a powerful Mixtec city in present-day Mexico. The territory was then incorporated into the Spanish America colony, marking the beginning of Spanish colonization in the region.
January 1522: In 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes led the conquest of Juxtlahuaca, a region in present-day Mexico.
January 1522: Conquest of central Mexico by Spanish conquistadores (1519-21).
Was a protracted conflict where Spanish colonisers gradually incorporated the territory that became the modern country of Guatemala into the colonial Viceroyalty of New Spain.
April 1524: In 1524, Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado led the defeat of the Tzʼutujil Kingdom on the shores of Lake Atitlán in present-day Guatemala. This marked the incorporation of the territory into the Spanish America colonial empire.
January 1523: In 1522 Spanish conquistador Cortés sent Mexican allies to scout the Soconusco region of lowland Chiapas, where they met new delegations from Iximche and Qʼumarkaj at Tuxpán. Both of the powerful highland Maya kingdoms declared their loyalty to the king of Spain.
February 1524: Battle of Zapotitlán (modern-day department of Suchitepéquez): Spanish victory over the K'iche '.
April 1524: Iximché, the main city of the Kaqchikel Maya people, was conquered by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado in 1524. The Kaqchikels became Spanish vassals.
May 1524: Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado defeats the Pipil of Panacal or Panacaltepeque near Izcuintepeque. On 8 May 1524, soon after his arrival in Iximche and immediately following his subsequent conquest of the Tzʼutujil around Lake Atitlán, Pedro de Alvarado continued southwards to the Pacific coastal plain with an army numbering approximately 6000, where he defeated the Pipil of Panacal or Panacaltepeque near Izcuintepeque on 9 May. According to Alvarado's letter to Cortés, the Pipil came back to the town and submitted to him, accepting the king of Spain as their overlord.
May 1524: In 1524, Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado defeated the Xinca people of Atiquipaque in the Xinca Kingdom, located in the Taxisco area.
November 1525: Zaculeu, capital of the Mam, surrenders to the Spanish led by Gonzalo de Alvarado y Contreras after a lengthy siege.
May 1530: In 1530, the Kaqchikel Kingdom, led by their ruler Tecún Umán, surrendered to the Spanish conquistadors in what is now Spanish America. This marked the beginning of Spanish colonization in the region.
August 1524: The Kaqchikel abandoned their capital in Iximche and broke their alliance with the Spanish conquistadors.
March 1697: Nojpetén surrendered to the Spanish after a fierce battle.
November 1525: Zaculeu, the capital of the Mam people, surrended to Gonzalo de Alvarado y Contreras after a prolonged siege.
February 1524: On 8 February 1524 Alvarado's army fought a battle at Xetulul, called Zapotitlán by his Mexican allies. Although suffering many injuries inflicted by defending Kʼicheʼ archers, the Spanish and their allies stormed the town and set up camp in the marketplace.
April 1524: In 1524, the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado led the conquest of the K'iche' people in the territories of Retalhuleu, Suchitepéquez, Quetzaltenango, Totonicapán, and El Quiché in present-day Guatemala. This marked a significant victory for the Spanish in their colonization of Spanish America.
April 1524: Pedro de Alvarado was a Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that destroyed the K'iche' capital of Q'umarkaj in 1524. The K'iche' were a powerful indigenous group in the Quiche region of Spanish America.
May 1524: Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado defeated the Xincas of Atiquipaque.
January 1526: Pedro de Alvarado was a Spanish conquistador who played a key role in the Spanish conquest of Central America. The Poqomam Kingdom was a Maya civilization located in present-day Guatemala. Alvarado's capture of the Poqomam capital in 1525 was a significant event in the Spanish colonization of the region.
January 1527: In 1526, Spanish captains sent by Pedro de Alvarado, a Spanish conquistador, conquered Chiquimula, a region in present-day Guatemala.
January 1696: In 1695, Spanish conquistadors led by Captain Martín de Ursúa, along with indigenous allies, launched a three-way invasion of the Lacandon region from San Mateo Ixtatán, Cobán, and Ocosingo. This marked the beginning of Spanish colonization in the area, which was part of Spanish America at the time.
May 1524: Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado defeated the Panacal or Panacaltepeque pipiles near Izcuintepeque.
January 1525: Santiago de Guatemala is occupied by Spanish forces (1524).
January 1527: In 1526, Spanish captains sent by conquistador Pedro de Alvarado successfully conquered the Chiquimula region in present-day Guatemala. Alvarado was a prominent Spanish conquistador who played a key role in the conquest of Central America.
January 1526: The Chajoma people rebel against the Spanish.
May 1530: Rebellion in Chiquimula repressed.
Were a series of military campaigns waged by Spain to gradually conquer modern-day Nicaragua.
February 1523: On 27 February 1523, Niño put to shore at El Realejo, where Captain Antón Mayor formally took possession of the territory in the name of the Spanish crown, the first Spanish act in the territory of what is now Nicaragua.
March 1523: In 1523, Spanish explorer Gil González de Ávila, under the command of Hernán Cortés, sailed to the Gulf of Fonseca. He made landfall on an island on March 5, naming the Gulf in honor of Spanish bishop Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca.
March 1524: In 1524, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés advanced to Tezoatega (now El Viejo, Chinandega - Nicaragua).
November 1524: In 1524, Spanish conquistador Francisco Hernández de Córdoba founded the colonial towns of León and Granada in present-day Nicaragua.
January 1544: Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Castañeda founded Nueva Segovia in north-central Nicaragua.
January 1604: In 1603, Spanish conquistador Diego de Ospina led the colonization of the region of Segovia, which is now part of modern-day Colombia. The indigenous settlements in the area were brought under Spanish control, marking the beginning of Spanish influence in the region.
Was a war between the Spanish Empire and Portuguese Empire that started when some Spaniards, led by Ruy Garcia de Moschera, established themselves around the city of Vicentina in Brazil.
January 1537: In 1536, Spanish conquistadors Pedro de Mendoza and Juan de Ayolas founded a town in Vicentina, Brazil. They came into conflict with the Crown of Portugal over territorial claims, leading them to retreat back to the Río de la Plata region.
November 1529: Due to the interpretation of the Treaty of Tordesilhas, some Spaniards, led by Ruy Garcia de Moschera, established themselves around Vicentina.
Was a protracted conflict where Spanish colonisers gradually incorporated the region of Yucatán.
November 1546: In late 1546 an alliance of eastern provinces launched an unsuccessful uprising against the Spanish. The eastern Maya were defeated in a single battle, which marked the final conquest of the northern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula.
April 1535: In 1535, the Spanish conquistadors, led by Francisco de Montejo, retreated from Campeche after facing fierce resistance from the Mayan people. This marked a significant setback in their efforts to conquer the Yucatan Peninsula.
January 1532: In 1531 the Spanish moved their base of operations to Campeche, where they repulsed a significant Maya attack.
January 1543: In 1541-42 the first permanent Spanish town councils in the entire Yucatán peninsula were founded at Campeche and Mérida.
Were a series of Spanish military campaigns to conquer the Inca Empire, that controlled modern-day Peru.
June 1572: On June 23 the fort of Huayna Pucará surrendered to Spanish artillery fire. The Inca army now in retreat opted to abandon their last city and head for the jungle to regroup. On June 24 the Spanish entered Vilcabamba.
August 1533: The Spaniards executed Inca emperor Atahualpa in August 1533 and annexed the Inca Empire.
January 1537: Manco Inca retreated to the mountains of Vilcabamba and established the small Neo-Inca State, where he and his successors ruled for another 36 years, sometimes raiding the Spanish or inciting revolts against them.
January 1533: The Battle of Cajamarca on November 16, 1532, ended the Inca Empire and gave Spain control of Peru, then the wealthiest region of Latin America.
September 1572: Túpac Amaru, having taken refuge in the jungle to continue the fight, was finally captured and executed by the Spaniards.
January 1538: After being defeated by the Spanish conquistadores, Manco Inca, the leader of the Inca resistance, retreated the remote jungles of Vilcabamba.
Was a rebellion by the Caxcan people of northwestern Mexico against the Spanish conquerors. The war was named after Mixtón, a hill in Zacatecas which served as an Indigenous stronghold.
November 1541: The Spanish authorities assembled a force of 450 Spaniards and 30 to 60 thousand Aztec, Tlaxcalan and other Indians and under Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza invaded the land of the Caxcanes. With his overwhelming force, Mendoza reduced the Indian strongholds one-by-one in a war of no quarter. On November 9, 1541, he captured the city of Nochistlan and Tenamaztle.
April 1542: In early 1542 the stronghold of Mixtón fell to the Spaniards and the rebellion was over. Victory in the Mixtón War enabled the Spanish to control all the territories of the Caxcanes.
Selected Sources
Exploración y conquista de Nueva Granada, August 24th, 2016 on https://laamericaespanyola.com/2016/08/24/exploracion-y-conquista-de-nueva-granada/
Fundación de Santa María la Antigua del Darién. Retrieved on March 24th, 2024 on https://panamahistoria.tripod.com/Stamaria.htm
Guinot, D. L. (2014): From Al-Andalus to Monte Sacro, Bloomington (USA), p. 83
Henderson, J. D. / Delpar, H. / Brungardt, M. P. / Weldon, R. N. (2000): A Reference Guide to Latin American History, New York (USA), pp. 21-22
Historia. Retrieved on March 24th, 2024 on https://www.barrancabermeja.gov.co/publicaciones/11/historia/
Santa Cruz: primer poblado Venezolano. Retrieved on March 24th, 2024 on https://venezuelaesplus.blogspot.com/2018/05/santa-cruz-primera-ciudad-construida-en.html
Tucker, S.C. (2011) Battles that changed History - An Encyclopedia of World Conflict, ABC-CLIO, p.157
Tucker, S.C. (2011) Battles that changed History - An Encyclopedia of World Conflict, ABC-CLIO, p.170
Zuñiga, J. P. (2023): Constellations d’empire: Territorialisation et construction impériale dans les Amériques hispaniques (XVIIe-XVIIIe siècle), Madrid (Spain), p. 21
PASADO, PRESENTE Y FUTURO. retrieved on March 24th, 2024 on https://www.jamundi.gov.co/MiMunicipio/Paginas/Pasado-Presente-y-Futuro.aspx
PASADO, PRESENTE Y FUTURO. retrieved on March 24th, 2024 on https://www.turbaco-bolivar.gov.co/MiMunicipio/Paginas/Pasado-Presente-y-Futuro.aspx
