Spanish Main Timeline

First Voyage of Christopher Columbus to the New World in three ships in an attempt to establish maritime trade routes to the East.

A Spanish settlement is founded at La Isabela on the island of Hispaniola.

Portugal and Spain sign the Treaty of Tordesillas which divides the world into two spheres of influence.

The Spanish settlement of Santo Domingo on Hispaniola is founded.

The Spanish first settle on Puerto Rico.

The Spanish found Nombre de Dios in Panama.

The Spanish first settle on Cuba.

The Spanish found the city of Panama.

Veracruz, Mexico is founded by Hernán Cortés.

Motecuhzoma II receives Hernán Cortés at the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan.

Spanish treasure fleets transport the riches of the Americas to Spain.

The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan falls into the hands of Spanish forces led by Hernán Cortés.

Jean de Fleury (aka Florin) captures three Spanish treasure ships off Cape Vincent.

Hernán Cortés is appointed the first governor of the colony of New Spain (Mexico).

The first Spanish galleons come into operation.

Francsico Pizarro and the Spanish conquistadors arrive in South America.

Battle of Cajamarca where the Inca leader Atahualpa is captured and held for ransom by Spanish forces led by Francisco Pizarro.

Francisco Pizarro takes the Inca capital of Cuzco.

Don Antonio de Mendoza is made the first viceroy of New Spain (Mexico and Central America).

The Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru (the former Inca territory) is established.

Captain-General Pedro Menendez de Avilés begins a system of large and escorted convoys for the Spanish treasure fleets.

The French privateer Jacques de Sores brutally attacks Havana.

The Manila galleons each year take eastern trade goods from Manila to Acapulco (and return with American silver).

John Hawkins and Francis Drake lead an expedition to transport slaves from west Africa to the Spanish West Indies. The fleet is attacked at San Juan de Ulúa.

Francis Drake explores Panama and seizes a Spanish silver mule train.

Spanish royal regulations are issued on town planning in Spanish America.

Francis Drake captures the Spanish treasure ship Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (aka Cacafuego).

Sir Francis Drake attacks Spanish vessels and ports in the Spanish Main.

John Hawkins and Francis Drake lead an unsuccessful expedition against Spanish ships and settlements in Panama and the Caribbean.

Portobelo replaces Nombre de Dios as the chief Atlantic port in Panama.

Sir Francis Drake dies of dysentery at Portobelo, Panama.

Dutch ships begin to take salt from Araya on the coast of Venezuela.

Buccaneers operate in the Caribbean and attack both ports and ships along the Spanish Main.

Buccaneers begin to camp and hunt illegally in the western part of Hispaniola (modern Haiti).

The Nuestra Señora de Atocha Spanish treasure ship is wrecked in a storm off the Florida Keys.

A Dutch force led by Admiral Hein captures the entire New Spain treasure fleet on its way to Havana.

Tortuga becomes a major buccaneer base.

The French engineer Jean Le Vasseur builds a fortress on Tortuga.

Edward D'Oyley, Governor of Jamaica, encourages buccaneers of several nationalities to make Port Royal their base.

The buccaneer Henry Morgan attacks Villahermosa on the Spanish Main.

The buccaneer Henry Morgan attacks Tabasco and Gran Granada on the Spanish Main.

François L'Olonais leads a buccaneer force which attacks Venezuela on the Spanish Main.

François L'Olonais leads a buccaneer force which attacks Honduras on the Spanish Main.

A buccaneer force led by Henry Morgan attacks and captures Portobelo on the Spanish Main.

A buccaneer force led by Henry Morgan captures the port of Maracaibo. on the Spanish Main.

A buccaneer force led by Henry Morgan attacks and captures the port of Panama on the Spanish Main.

The buccaneer Henry Morgan is arrested and sent to London for his unlawful attack on Panama on the Spanish Main.

Sir Henry Morgan is appointed Lieutenant Governor of Port Royal.

Bartholomew Sharp leads buccaneer raids on the Pacific coast of the Spanish Main.

The Jamaican authorities prohibit piracy.

The Nuestra Señora de Encarnación Spanish treasure ship is wrecked in a storm off the coast of Panama.

Laurens De Graaf leads a buccaneer attack on Veracruz on the Spanish Main.

The Buccaneers of America by Alexander Oliver Exquemelin is published in English.

Edward Davis leads buccaneer attacks on the Pacific coast of the Spanish Main.

The conquest of the Maya Civilization completed by the Spanish conquistador Martín de Ursúa.

The last great buccaneer operation captures Cartagena on the Spanish Main.

The Peace of Ryswick signed between France, Spain, England, and the Netherlands effectively ends buccaneering in the Caribbean.

The English privateer Woodes Rogers captures the Manila galleon Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación Disengaño.

The Spanish Viceroyalty of New Granada (Venezuela and Colombia) is established.

The Treaty of Paris sees Spain cede Florida to Britain.

Louisiana is ceded to France by the Spanish.