# Talk:Spanish conquest of Honduras

This article looks like it may have been translated from es:Conquista de Honduras. I fixed a lot of citation template errors, located page numbers for quotes, and translated a few phrases and reference titles, but my Spanish skills are quite limited. The page needs copy-editing by someone more experienced in Spanish-English translation. —Shelley V. Adams ‹blamecredit› 13:28, 14 June 2016 (UTC)

If I get time, I will try to take this on - although perhaps not immediately. I wrote the cluster of articles on the Spanish conquest of the Maya (Guatemala/Petén/Chiapas/Yucatán) and various spin-off articles, so I have some knowledge of the subject, and my Spanish is good. I have been pondering which Spanish conquest article to tackle next, then this came along... All the best, Simon Burchell (talk) 10:07, 20 July 2016 (UTC)
I'm working on this now, and aim to finish within a week or two, and will then probably work on a complete rewrite. Simon Burchell (talk) 17:03, 5 December 2016 (UTC)
Update: Translation is finished, and this article at least gives an introduction to the topic, but it is stuffed full of lengthy quotes, and over-relies on 19th-century sources, with hardly any recent scholarship. I have smoothed out some of the more blatant NPOV violations, but there are probably plenty remaining. I've added a bunch of sources to a "Further reading" section, though it is by no means exhaustive, and I hope to return to this article at a later date to rewrite it in line with the Spanish conquest articles I mentioned previously. Simon Burchell (talk) 17:48, 9 December 2016 (UTC)
Further update: Rewrite done. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:14, 15 February 2017 (UTC)

This review is transcluded from Talk:Spanish conquest of Honduras/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.
Reviewer: Auntieruth55 (talk · contribs) 21:07, 2 March 2017 (UTC)

will do!  auntieruth (talk) 21:07, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
2 disambiguation pages linked on Spanish America.
These are linked from a navbox, I've fixed them there. Simon Burchell (talk) 09:01, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
lead...
this text is great! (so far)  It needs info boxes etc like you used in your article on the Mayans.
I've added an infobox. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:51, 3 March 2017 (UTC)
I'll get to the rest of this article tomorrow or on the weekend.  auntieruth (talk) 21:12, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
Thanks for taking this on - I realise it is a lengthy article. Best regards, Simon Burchell (talk) 22:29, 2 March 2017 (UTC)
geo/climate
once you've established meters, km, etc.  you can use the abbreviations in the template.  add |abbr=on to the template
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 12:46, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
Your topic sentences could be stronger.  Try not using "to be"   Honduras is situated in the ...The country is divided into four
Honduras lies in the heart ??? The country has four geographic regions
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 18:59, 11 March 2017 (UTC)
Also, establish at the beginning of this section that you mean the 21st century countries
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 13:24, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
At altitudes of over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), frost sometimes forms... Frost sometimes forms at ....
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 12:48, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
Before conquest...
the population is estimated to have been around 800,000, concentrated .... Most of the estimated 800,000 population lived in the....
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 17:05, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
is considered.   Most of the population ...  just say it and cite it.  "is considered" is wishy-washy.
Removed 2 instances of considered. Simon Burchell (talk) 12:52, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
other Mesoamerican cultures such  ....such other Mesoamerican cultures as....
Hmm. Not sure about this one. I did preview it, but it just reads a little strange to me... Simon Burchell (talk) 17:09, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
Lenca and * inhabited the islands
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 17:12, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
early colonial documents that the important settlements of Naco and Quimistan, in the northwest, were multiethnic, inhabited by Pipil and Lenca or Maya, or all three  ...Early colonial documents suggest that ....
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 17:07, 8 March 2017 (UTC)
You can strengthen all your sentences but taking out the "helping" verbs and getting right to your point.  You did this much better in the latter part of the article!

more later.... auntieruth (talk) 15:26, 6 March 2017 (UTC)
Thanks for the comments, I will try to look at this tomorrow or Wednesday. All the best, Simon Burchell (talk) 22:31, 6 March 2017 (UTC)
Background
This sentence: "After the discovery of Honduras by Columbus in 1502, no concerted effort to conquer the territory took place until 1524." is out of place.  This sentence In the first two decades of the 16th century, the Spanish established their domination over the islands of the Caribbean Sea, and used these as a staging point to launch their campaigns of conquest on the continental mainland of the Americas should be the topic sentence of that paragraph.\
I've swapped these two sentences around. Simon Burchell (talk) 09:40, 11 March 2017 (UTC)
from there various expeditions were launched northwards in... from there, launched various expeditions northward in...
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 09:44, 11 March 2017 (UTC)
end of that section might be the better place for "Consequently, after the discovery of Honduras by Columbus in 1502, no concerted effort to conquer the territory took place until 1524."
I've left it at the end of the first para, since it seems to fit smoothly there - events leading to 1502, then the statement of no further action in Honduras for two decades, then a summary of what was happening regionally during that gap. Simon Burchell (talk) 09:44, 11 March 2017 (UTC)
Encomienda
needs definition
The definition is in the 3rd sentence. "This gave the encomendero (holder of the encomienda) the right to receive tribute and labour." Simon Burchell (talk) 10:01, 11 March 2017 (UTC)
I've clarified it to "encomienda gave the encomendero (holder of the encomienda) the right to receive tribute and labour from the indigenous inhabitants of a defined area." Simon Burchell (talk) 10:12, 11 March 2017 (UTC)
spread of such diseases as malaria and yellow fever ....?
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 09:59, 11 March 2017 (UTC)
First expedition

Spanish infighting also hindered conquest -- out of place.  should be t.s. of next paragraph.
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 10:04, 11 March 2017 (UTC)
Nice.  More later auntieruth (talk) 23:17, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

Discovery
afterwards it was generally known as the Cape of Honduras  -- afterward generally known as the Cape of Honduras  (link?)
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 22:15, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
First Expeditions
extremely turbulent period...you don't need extremely
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 22:15, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
It was sometimes the case that the Spanish would conquer an area and move on, just for it to immediately rise in rebellion. On several ,,,conquered indigenous peoples rose up to massacre the Spanish colonisers. repetitive ...Sometimes the Spanish would conquer an area and move on, just for it to immediately rise in rebellion,[20] or even
massacre any Spanish colonisers.[44]

Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 22:15, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
Rival conquests
From there he and marched inland in...?
Fixed. Simon Burchell (talk) 22:15, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, who answered to Pedrarias in Castilla de Oro,   what does this mean? C de O was his commander?  Or that was his "other" name.
Pedrarias was the commanding officer, based in the colony of Castilla de Oro (Panama/Colombia). Simon Burchell (talk) 22:15, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
I found this section quite confusing.
I've rephrased somewhat in an attempt to clarify. The situation was confused, to say the least, with roaming bands of Spanish adventurers facing off all over the place... Simon Burchell (talk) 22:38, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
need to link first instance of Audiencia, not second.
I've moved the link. Simon Burchell (talk) 22:19, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
Hernan Cortez
 The journey from Lake Petén Itzá to Lake Izabal, both now in Guatemala, was extremely arduous, and Cortés lost many men and horses.[89]  During the arduous journey..., Cortes lost many men and horses.
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 22:47, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
de rojas
He sent a letter and gifts with messengers, who met Gonzalo de Sandoval, who was imposing Spanish control over Papayeca at that time, then proceed onwards to Cortés at Trujillo.  who...who...then proceed.
Sections covering all tht dispute are confusing.  I couldn't keep straight who was doing what to whom. I wonder if there's a way to illustrate this with some kind of graphic that shows, over time, the different alliances...?  If I were teaching this, my students wouldn't understand it.
Yes, it gave me quite a headache trying to understand what was going on (hence the map in the "Scramble for Honduras" section, which I created purely to understand the order of events in that section...) I'll see what I can come up with. Simon Burchell (talk) 22:47, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
OK, I've drawn up a chart, it's not pretty, given the complex situation, but it represents interactions between different Spanish groups, and which officers fell within which general jurisdiction. I hope it helps... Simon Burchell (talk) 23:03, 16 March 2017 (UTC)
The Spanish Crown was now taking a direct interest in the chaotic state of affairs in Central America, and was taking efforts to place Crown officials as governors, and colonial organisations such as the audiencias to impose absolute government over territories claimed by Spain, thus putting an end to the era of distinguished conquistadors setting themselves up as overlords of territories they had conquered this can be broken into shorter, clearer sentences.
Crown
two different dates of when he left Santo Domingo and I'm not sure you need to repeat so much of the previous sentence.
Sorted - one day was his date of appointment, he sailed a little later. I also cut the repeat info. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:12, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
In the event.... You can take that out.
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:12, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
July 1526 ?
Yes, I've changed the tense, and dropped the "immediately", since on rereading the source there was obviously some lag. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:12, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
Natividad de Nuestra Señora  ?
This was a settlement founded by Hernán Cortés, earlier in the article. Two sections previously (in "Hernando de Saavedra") it had suffered an overwhelming native attack. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:12, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
from Comayagua as far south as Nicaragua  to as far south?
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:12, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
Diego López de Salcedo, 1526–1530  seems to me the title should be Crown authorities try to take control 1526-1530
I've done this. I had been trying to define sections by the leading conquistador, for those periods when one was clearly defined - but this was purely a structure I inherited from the article before I completely rewrote it, and I'm not wedded to it. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:18, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
in which the jurisdictional limits of Honduras were limited in which the jurisdictional limits of Honduras were defined by...
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:25, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
from that point onwards, any disputes were with Guatemal  although border disputes with Guatamala remained a problem.
Done Simon Burchell (talk) 08:25, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
By the time he arrived in the colonial capital, soon after Cerezeda had taken sole charge, he was near death  he was near death by the time he arrived at the colonial capital.  In the absence of a crown official, Cerezeda had taken sole charge.
Not sure about this one, since it is referring back to Cerezeda's emergence as leader from the bitter infighting in Trujillo, covered in the previous para. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:25, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
November 2 November     just need a comma after 2 November,
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:36, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
Cerezeda left Trujillo temporarily, and, with Vasco de Herrera also gone,   move comma
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:36, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
Vasco de Herrera ordered that Méndez de Hinostrosa be executed, but he sought sanctuary in a church and his supporters soon rallied to him; at that time they outnumbering Vasco de Herrera's men in Trujillo
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:36, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
Cerezeda acted quickly and fierce fighting erupted in Trujillo. Cerezeda captured Méndez de Hinostrosa and beheaded him. Finally, a year of Spanish infighting, Cerezeda emerged as sole governor of Honduras
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:36, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
and instead set off forayed along the Caribbean coast in canoes
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:36, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
In any case, the situation in Trujillo was too precarious for Cerezeda to support a major expedition.
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:36, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
that called in to Trujillo  that stopped at
Done. Simon Burchell (talk) 08:36, 15 March 2017 (UTC)
all for now.  (whew!)  auntieruth (talk) 21:05, 14 March 2017 (UTC)
Whew indeed! Thanks... Simon Burchell (talk) 08:36, 15 March 2017 (UTC)


### Status query
Auntieruth55, Simon Burchell, what is the status of this review? It looks like a bunch of issues were addressed a couple of weeks ago, with no posts here or to the article since then; are there more? Do some of them need more work? Thanks. BlueMoonset (talk) 19:39, 31 March 2017 (UTC)

@Auntieruth55: I was away for a week, but am now back, and ready to resume... I assume there is more to come. All the best, Simon Burchell (talk) 19:15, 2 April 2017 (UTC)
Update:Review still in progress, and Auntieruth55 has confirmed her willingness to continue when real-world business allows. Simon Burchell (talk) 16:53, 7 April 2017 (UTC)
Update: ok, taxes are done, I'll get to this tomorrow.  auntieruth (talk) 01:07, 19 April 2017 (UTC)
Auntieruth55, it will soon be next month. ;-) Any chance for a quick resumption? Thanks. BlueMoonset (talk) 21:38, 30 April 2017 (UTC)


#### done
sorry, I used the wrong template.  It has indeed passed, and is listed in the good article category.  auntieruth (talk) 19:31, 5 May 2017 (UTC))

Thanks for the thorough review, especially appreciated for such a long article, and it's always nice to see a better article come out at the end. Many thanks and best regards, Simon Burchell (talk) 12:08, 6 May 2017 (UTC)

It has been a while since this article has been reviewed, so I took a look and saw that it has had a "too long" banner since Sept 2024. I think sections of the article need to be spun out into new articles, and the information summarised here more effectively. Some sections where this spinning out could take place are "Rival conquests in the 1520s", "Hernán Cortés, 1525–1526", "Anarchy" "Pedro de Alvarado, 1536", and "Francisco de Montejo", especially the "Great Revolt, 1537–1539" subheading. Should this article go to WP:GAR? Z1720 (talk) 20:20, 9 November 2025 (UTC)