The feud between Spain and Costa Rica began the moment they met.
Costa Rica means "rich coast" in Spanish. It is widely said that when Columbus set foot on the American continent for the last time in 1502 (Figures 1 and 2), he was surprised by the number of gold and silver jewelry worn by the indigenous people there, which gave the rich land such a name.
In 1521, Spanish colonists conquered the Aztec Empire, establishing the Viceroyalty of New Spain on their lands, under the jurisdiction of the Spanish Empire. Soon after, most of the Isthmus of Central America was incorporated into the Viceroyalty, with Costa Rica as its southernmost province.
On September 15, 1821, Central America also declared its independence after Mexico seceded from Spain (fig. 3), and Costa Rica still celebrates this day as its own day of independence.
