Francisco Pizarro (Spain)
Pizarro was the illegitimate son of Captain Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisca González, a young girl of humble birth and spent much of his early life in the home of his grandparents. As a grown man, Pizarro had did not desire the settled life of the colonizer, and in 1510 he enrolled in an expedition of the explorer Alonso de Ojeda to Urabá in Colombia, where he made his reputation as a hard, silent man who could be trusted in difficult situations.
Three years later, acting as captain, he participated in an expedition led by the explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa that was credited with the European discovery of the Pacific. From 1519 to 1523 he was mayor and magistrate of the newly founded town of Panamá, accumulating a small fortune.
It was not until 1523, that a 48-year-old Pizarro embarked upon the adventure that was to lead to his lasting fame. In partnership with a soldier, Diego de Almagro, and a priest, Hernando de Luque, he made preparations for a voyage of discovery and conquest down the west coast of South America. Many hardships were endured along the Colombian coast during the first (1524–25) and second (1526–28) expeditions. Desiring precious metals and other goods rumored to be farther south, Pizarro sent for reinforcements, but the new Governor of Panama instead told him to abandon the mission. At this point Pizarro is reputed to have drawn a line on the ground with his sword, inviting those who desired wealth and glory to cross it. The “famous thirteen” who did cross the line continued their exploration of the coast as far as 9° S, obtaining distinct accounts of a great Indian empire as well as many Inca artifacts. They christened the new land Peru.
Because the Governor of Panama was still opposed to the expedition, Pizarro sailed to Spain to speak with King Charles V of Spain. Pleased with Pizzaro, the King made Pizarro governor and captain general of the province and gave all the "famous thirteen" substantial rights and privileges in the new territories.
Joined by four of his brothers, Pizarro sailed for Panama in January 1530 and by January of the following year was ready to set off for Peru. He set sail with one ship, 180 men, and 37 horses, being joined later by two more ships. By April they had made contact with emissaries of Atahuallpa, emperor of the Incas, who was waiting near the city of Cajamarca with an army of about 30,000 men. Not fearing Pizarro’s small force, the Inca accepted a proposal that the two leaders meet in that city. At the meeting, Atahuallpa refused the Spanish demands to give up their land and convert to Christianity. Pizarro ordered an attack and cut down the astonished Incas, capturing Atahualpa, who he later executed. Without their leader, the Inca retreated as Pizarro continued his conquest.
For the remainder of his life, Pizarro was engaged in consolidating the Spanish hold on Peru and in defending his and his brothers’ share of the spoils. A rivalry developed between him and Almagro as a result of Pizarro’s overriding powers from the king of Spain, which led to an agreement between the original three partners that the spoils of the expedition should be shared equally. Almagro at one stage seized Cuzco but was persuaded by Pizarro to depart for Chile, over which he had been granted extensive powers by the king. Disappointed by the poverty of that country, however, he returned to Peru, where he was made prisoner and later executed by Hernando Pizarro (Francisco's brother). Francisco Pizarro, meanwhile, was in Lima, a city that he had founded in 1535. Suspecting Francisco may attack them, Almagro's son and followers attacked Pizarro's palace in Lima. As the story goes, Francisco dies this day in dramatic fashion, drawing a cross of his own blood on the ground, kissing it, and crying "Jesus" as he fell.
Three years later, acting as captain, he participated in an expedition led by the explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa that was credited with the European discovery of the Pacific. From 1519 to 1523 he was mayor and magistrate of the newly founded town of Panamá, accumulating a small fortune.
It was not until 1523, that a 48-year-old Pizarro embarked upon the adventure that was to lead to his lasting fame. In partnership with a soldier, Diego de Almagro, and a priest, Hernando de Luque, he made preparations for a voyage of discovery and conquest down the west coast of South America. Many hardships were endured along the Colombian coast during the first (1524–25) and second (1526–28) expeditions. Desiring precious metals and other goods rumored to be farther south, Pizarro sent for reinforcements, but the new Governor of Panama instead told him to abandon the mission. At this point Pizarro is reputed to have drawn a line on the ground with his sword, inviting those who desired wealth and glory to cross it. The “famous thirteen” who did cross the line continued their exploration of the coast as far as 9° S, obtaining distinct accounts of a great Indian empire as well as many Inca artifacts. They christened the new land Peru.
Because the Governor of Panama was still opposed to the expedition, Pizarro sailed to Spain to speak with King Charles V of Spain. Pleased with Pizzaro, the King made Pizarro governor and captain general of the province and gave all the "famous thirteen" substantial rights and privileges in the new territories.
Joined by four of his brothers, Pizarro sailed for Panama in January 1530 and by January of the following year was ready to set off for Peru. He set sail with one ship, 180 men, and 37 horses, being joined later by two more ships. By April they had made contact with emissaries of Atahuallpa, emperor of the Incas, who was waiting near the city of Cajamarca with an army of about 30,000 men. Not fearing Pizarro’s small force, the Inca accepted a proposal that the two leaders meet in that city. At the meeting, Atahuallpa refused the Spanish demands to give up their land and convert to Christianity. Pizarro ordered an attack and cut down the astonished Incas, capturing Atahualpa, who he later executed. Without their leader, the Inca retreated as Pizarro continued his conquest.
For the remainder of his life, Pizarro was engaged in consolidating the Spanish hold on Peru and in defending his and his brothers’ share of the spoils. A rivalry developed between him and Almagro as a result of Pizarro’s overriding powers from the king of Spain, which led to an agreement between the original three partners that the spoils of the expedition should be shared equally. Almagro at one stage seized Cuzco but was persuaded by Pizarro to depart for Chile, over which he had been granted extensive powers by the king. Disappointed by the poverty of that country, however, he returned to Peru, where he was made prisoner and later executed by Hernando Pizarro (Francisco's brother). Francisco Pizarro, meanwhile, was in Lima, a city that he had founded in 1535. Suspecting Francisco may attack them, Almagro's son and followers attacked Pizarro's palace in Lima. As the story goes, Francisco dies this day in dramatic fashion, drawing a cross of his own blood on the ground, kissing it, and crying "Jesus" as he fell.