There were two Spanish conquistadores at the start of the 16th century named Francisco Hernández de Córdoba. The one described here founded Nicaragua. The other discovered the peninsula of Yucatán: see Francisco Hernández de Córdoba (discoverer of Yucatán). Neither of their birth dates are known.

Francisco Hernández de Córdoba (died 1526) is usually reputed as the founder of Nicaragua, and in fact he founded two important Nicaraguan cities, Granada and León. The currency of Nicaragua is named the córdoba in his memory.

He was an officer of Pedro Árias Dávila , known also as Pedrarias Dávila. Hernán Cortés supported him, mainly because he looked for the support of Hernández against Cristóbal de Olid. Pedrarias Dávila considered Hernández an insurrectionist and a traitor, and finally captured and beheaded him.