Jiménez de Quesada shortly finds his control challenged by two rival expeditions converging on the same spot from different directions.

One is led by Nikolaus Federmann, a German in Spanish service who arrives from western Venezuela, and the other by Sebastian de Belalcazar (or Benalcazar), a former lieutenant of Pizarro coming north from Quito who has founded Popayan and Cali on the way.

Instead of fighting among themselves for the spoils of the Muiscas, the three conquistadors refer the matter to authorities in Spain, who, not wanting any one conquistador to become too powerful, place a fourth party in charge instead.

However, Jimenez de Quesada is granted other privileges and is one of those who continues the work of exploration and conquest.