Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador best known for the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Here are key aspects of his life and contributions:
Early Life
- Francisco Pizarro was born circa 1471-1478 in Trujillo, Extremadura, Spain.
- He was an illegitimate son of Gonzalo Pizarro Rodríguez de Aguilar, an infantry colonel, and Francisca González Mateos, a woman of humble origins.
Exploration and Conquests
- Pizarro first came to the New World in 1502, participating in expeditions to Hispaniola and Panama.
- In 1524, he partnered with Diego de Almagro and the priest Hernando de Luque to explore the lands south of the Isthmus of Panama, where they heard of a wealthy empire, later identified as the Inca Empire.
- His second expedition in 1526 reached as far as Tumbes in modern-day Peru, where they encountered gold artifacts and learned of the wealth of the Incas.
- The third expedition began in 1530, and Pizarro returned to Spain to secure royal approval and support for the conquest, which was granted by Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain.
The Conquest of the Inca Empire
- In 1531, Pizarro embarked on the conquest with fewer than 200 men. They captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa at the Battle of Cajamarca in November 1532, using surprise and deceit to overcome the vastly superior numbers of the Inca.
- Atahualpa offered a ransom of a room full of gold and silver to secure his release, which was accepted, but Pizarro eventually ordered his execution on August 29, 1533.
- After Atahualpa's death, Pizarro marched on Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire, and established a new capital at Lima in 1535.
Later Years and Death
- The distribution of the vast wealth from the Inca Empire caused tensions among the conquistadors, leading to civil war in Peru.
- Pizarro faced opposition from Almagro and his followers, leading to Almagro's execution in 1538.
- Pizarro was assassinated on June 26, 1541, in Lima by followers of Diego de Almagro the Younger, seeking revenge for their leader's death.
Legacy
- Pizarro's actions significantly contributed to the end of the Inca civilization, the spread of Christianity, and the integration of the Andean region into the Spanish Empire.
- His legacy is controversial; he is often viewed as a ruthless conqueror who brought about the downfall of a sophisticated indigenous civilization through conquest, disease, and exploitation.
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