Francisco Pizarro
The Spaniard who captured the Sapa Inca Atahualpa with fewer than 200 men and conquered the Inca Empire.
Life
Humble origins
Pizarro was born illegitimate into a poor family in Extremadura, Spain, and was illiterate. As a young man he went to seek his fortune in the Americas and took part in Balboa's expedition that discovered the Pacific Ocean.
Cajamarca
He made several voyages south to explore the coast of Peru. In 1532, with fewer than 200 men, he laid an ambush at Cajamarca and captured Atahualpa, who had just won the civil war; after extracting a roomful of gold as ransom, he executed him anyway, and the following year occupied Cusco. In 1535 he founded the city of Lima.
Lima and assassination
The conquistadors fell into civil war over the division of spoils. He executed his partner Almagro, and in 1541 he was assassinated in Lima by Almagro's supporters.
Legacy
Pizarro conquered the largest Indigenous empire in the Americas, and his conquest brought great catastrophe to the peoples of the Andes.
Did you know? His remains lie in Lima Cathedral, and in 1977 they were examined to establish whether they were authentic.
Key dates
- 1513Reached the Pacific Ocean with Balboa
- 1532Captured Atahualpa at Cajamarca
- 1533Executed Atahualpa, occupied Cusco
- 1535Founded Lima
- 1541Assassinated