Francisco Fernández de Córdoba (fränthēs´kō fārnän´dāth dā kōr´dōbä), d. 1526?, Spanish conquistador. Sent in 1523 by Pedro Arias de Ávila to deprive Gil González de Ávila (d. 1543) of his claims to Nicaragua, Fernández de Córdoba founded León and Granada (Nicaragua). In an attempt to seize Nicaragua for himself, he was surprised by his commander and put to death. The Nicaraguan unit of currency (córdoba) is named after him.

Francisco Fernández de Córdoba (fränthēs´kō fārnän´dāth dā kōr´dōbä), d. 1518?, Spanish explorer in Mexico. Sailing from Cuba on a slave hunt, he discovered Yucatán in 1517. He died from wounds received in a battle with the Maya. His explorations were furthered by Juan de Grijalva.