thumb|right|Francisco Hernandez de Córdoba<br>Nicaraguan Postage, 1924
thumb|A statue of Francisco Hernández de Córdoba in Granada
Francisco Hernández de Córdoba (; – 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.
Córdoba was an officer of Pedro Arias Dávila, known also as Pedrarias Dávila. Hernán Cortés and Hernán Ponce de León supported Córdoba during the conquest of Nicaragua in 1524,