Table of Contents
Who Was Francisco Pizarro?
Francisco Pizarro was a prominent Spanish conquistador known for his pivotal role in the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire in the early 16th century. In 1513, he joined forces with Vasco Núñez de Balboa in an expedition to the “South Sea,” where Balboa famously discovered the Pacific Ocean. Pizarro’s ambitions led him to conquer Peru in 1532, and three years later, he founded Lima, which would become the capital of the newly established Spanish colony. Pizarro’s life came to a violent end on June 26, 1541, when he was assassinated in Lima by members of an opposing faction of conquistadors seeking revenge.
Early Years
Born circa 1476 in Trujillo, Spain, Pizarro was the illegitimate son of Captain Gonzalo Pizarro, a struggling farmer, and Francisca González, a woman of humble origins. Growing up in a poverty-stricken environment, he lacked formal education and was unable to read. Instead, he spent his youth tending to his father’s pigs. Inspired by tales of the New World, Pizarro developed a strong desire for adventure and wealth. This ambition propelled him to join Spanish explorer Alonzo de Ojeda on an expedition to Urabá, Colombia, in 1510. Although this journey proved to be unproductive, Pizarro demonstrated his reliability in challenging situations.
March to the Sea
In 1513, Pizarro partnered with Balboa on an expedition across the Isthmus of Panama, during which they discovered what is now recognized as the Pacific Ocean. Despite Pizarro’s later prominence, Balboa was credited with this significant European discovery. Ironically, Pizarro’s career took a controversial turn when he arrested Balboa under orders from Pedro Arias de Ávila (commonly referred to as Pedrarias), Balboa’s rival and a notorious tyrant. Following Balboa’s arrest, Pizarro remained in Panama, where he was awarded an estate, served as mayor of Panama City, and began to accumulate considerable wealth.
Reconnaissance Voyages
In 1524, Francisco Pizarro joined forces with navigator Diego de Almagro and priest Fernando de Luque to embark on a series of reconnaissance voyages. Their initial expedition reached the San Juan River, followed by a second journey that allowed Pizarro to explore further south along the coast of South America. During this time, Pizarro’s chief navigator, Bartolomé Ruiz, ventured across the equator and returned with valuable intelligence regarding the regions located south of the equator.
Conquering Peru and Death
In 1528, Pizarro returned to Spain, where he successfully secured a commission from Emperor Charles V to conquer southern territories and establish a new Spanish province. In 1532, Pizarro, accompanied by his brothers, overthrew the Inca leader Atahualpa, effectively conquering Peru. Three years later, he founded the new capital city of Lima.
As time passed, tensions escalated between the original conquistadors who had conquered Peru and those who arrived later seeking to assert their claims in the newly established Spanish province. This division led to the formation of two factions: one led by Pizarro and the other by his former associate, Almagro. Following the capture of Cuzco, Almagro confronted Pizarro and his brothers at the Battle of Las Salinas. The Pizarro brothers emerged victorious, and in 1538, Hernando Pizarro captured and executed Almagro. Ultimately, on June 26, 1541, in Lima, members of Almagro’s defeated faction avenged his death by assassinating Pizarro.