[10][11] The Nicarao are descended from Toltecs who migrated from North America and central and southern Mexico over the course of several centuries from approximately 700 CE onwards.

[21][10][22][23][24][25][26][27] Around 1200 CE, the Nicarao split from the Pipil people, moved into what is now Nicaragua, seized most of the fertile lands in the area, and at some point eventually separated and formed their own chiefdoms.

The Nicarao settled throughout western Nicaragua, inhabiting Rivas, Jinotega, Chinandega, Nueva Segovia, Masaya, Carazo, Madriz, Matagalpa, Esteli, Leon, Granada and Managua.

[41][42][43][44][45] This was a geographical endonym that referred to the large bodies of water that surrounded the land the Nicarao inhabited, the Pacific Ocean, lakes Cocibolca and Xolotlan, and the rivers and lagoons.

As a Mesoamerican group, the Nicarao shared many blended cultural traits with both indigenous North American and Mexican belief systems as well as their Toltec parent tribe, including an identical Toltec calendar, similar pottery and effigies, similar organizational treaties, the use of screenfold books, the worship of the Great Spirit and closely related sky deities, Nagual mysticism, the practice of animal and Tonal spirituality, and expertise in medical practice.

[50][51][52][53][54] After the Nicarao split from the Pipils and migrated further south into what is now western Nicaragua and northwestern Costa Rica, they seized most of the fertile lands in the area through warfare, and displaced many neighboring tribes including the Cacaoperas, the Chorotegas, and the Huetares.

[79] According to Spanish conquistadors Gil González Dávila and Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés, who was also a historian, the Nicarao had multiple chiefdoms that were independent from one another.

[28][29][80] In addition, although these chiefdoms shared the same language, culture, and ethnicity, they were never unified under a single political entity as Kuskatan was in present-day El Salvador.

[89] Therefore Kakawatan translates to "land of cacao water", referring to chocolate drinks, one the most important aspects of Nicarao culture.

Fernandez de Oviedo described Teswatan as a chiefdom filled with maize, in addition to Akatekwtli's son ascending to the throne after his death during Spanish conquest.

[100][101][102] At the time of Spanish arrival, Gil González Dávila traveled to western Nicaragua with a small army of just over 100 men made up of conquistadors and their Tlaxcalteca allies.

They explored the fertile western valleys and were impressed with the Nahua and Oto-manguean civilizations for the vast amounts of food they had in addition to their flourishing markets, permanent temples, and trade network.

[80] Eventually, Dávila met with the most powerful ruler in pre-Columbian Nicaragua named Macuilmiquiztli, meaning "Five Deaths" in the Nahuatl language, and conversed with him through Tlaxcalan translators.

When Dávila demanded the now skeptical Macuilmiquiztli, as well as chiefs Wemak and Diriangén who were also present, to be baptized, to renounce their pagan beliefs, to hand over the rest of their gold and jewellery, and to bend the knee to the Spanish crown, they refused.

Ultimately the conquest of Nicanahuac was swift due to the tribal divisions within Nicarao society, in stark contrast to their Pipil kin who were unified under the Kuskatan confederation, and as a result, lasted much longer against the conquistadors which fell in 1528.

The Nicarao suffered a devastating demographic and societal collapse from a combination of disease, war against the Spanish and their Tlaxcalteca allies, and being sold into slavery.

Diriangén escaped the Spanish onslaught and eventually died between 1527-1529, Wemak was captured and executed in 1525 after the last of his Kakawateca forces were annihilated by the conquistadors and Tlaxcaltecas, and the fall of Kwawkapolkan in 1525 finalized their defeat.

The Nicarao people migrated south from North America and central and southern Mexico over the course of several centuries from approximately 700 CE onwards.

[109][125] The Nicarao appear to have seized control of the most productive land around the western portions of Lake Nicaragua, Ometepe, and the Gulf of Fonseca.

In Costa Rica the Nicarao population ranges from several hundred to 1000 and are primarily located in the Bagaces Canton, with smaller pockets inhabiting other parts of Guanacaste.

Other principal settlements included Ometepe, Asososca Lagoon (Managua), Mistega, Ochomogo, Oxmorio, Papagayo, Tecoatega, Teoca, Totoaca, and Xoxoyota.

[128] Like most other Nahua groups, the Nicarao were agriculturalists, and cultivated maize, cacao, tomatoes, avocados, potatoes, squash, beans, and chili.

[31][133] Chocolate was fundamental to pre-Columbian Nicarao culture as it was drunk during special ceremonies in addition to cocoa beans being used as their currency.

[130] The Nicarao also dined on various meats such as turkey, deer, iguana, mute dogs, and fish from the sea, rivers, lakes and lagoons.

[135] Tattoo artistry across the face and body was prized among a few Nicaraos, as observed by the Spanish and reflected in effigies and clay artwork they created; this trait was shared by neighboring Nicoyan tribes to the south as well as the Maya people to the north.

The Nicarao also practiced stonecraft, as evidenced by elaborate petroglyphs of spirals, murals and spiritual figures carved and painted onto stones in Ometepe; this was shared by the Chorotega and other pre-Columbian civilizations in the region.

[125] Spanish chronicler Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés, writing soon after the conquest, recorded that the Nicarao practised cranial modification, by binding the heads of young children between two pieces of wood.

[140][141] Despite their massive decrease in population and the loss of their native language in the aftermath of Spanish conquest, the Nicarao, and their culture, are still an integral part of Nicaraguan identity as they formed the ethnic foundation of the country.