Biography of Francisco Pizarro
Born in Trujillo, Estremadura, Spain, probably in 1471; died at
Lima, Peru, 26 June, 1541.
He was the illegitimate son of Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisca
González, who paid little attention to his education and he grew up
without learning how to read or write. His father was a captain of
infantry and had fought in the Neopolitan wars with el Gran Capitán
Gonzalo de Córdoba. Filled with enthusiasm at the accunts of the
exploits of his countrymen in America, Pizarro set sail (10
November, 1509) with Alonzo de Ojeda from Spain, on the latter's
expedition to Urabí, where Ojeda founded the city of San Sebastian,
and left it in Pizarro's care when he returned to the ship for
provisions. Hardships and the climate having thinned the ranks of
his companions, Pizarro sailed to the port of Cartagena. There he
joined the fleet of Martin Fernández de Encíso, and later attached
himself to the expedition of Nuñez de Balboa, whom he accompanied on
his journey across the Isthmus of Panama to discover the Pacific
Ocean (29 September, 1513). When Balboa was beheaded by his
successor, Pedrarias Dávila, Pizarro followed the fortunes of the
latter until 1515 when Dávila sent him to trade with the natives
along the Pacific coast. When the capital was transferred to Panama
he helped Pedrarias to subjugate the warlike tribes of Veraguas, and
in 1520 accompanied Espinosa on his expedition into the territory of
the Cacique Urraca, situated in the present Republic of Costa Rica.
In 1522 the accounts of the achievements of Hernán Cortés, and the
return of Pascual de Andagoya from his expedition to the southern
part of Panama, bringing news of the countries situated along the
shore of the ocean to the south, fired him with enthusiasm. With the
approbation of Pedrarias he formed together with Diego de Almagro, a
soldier of fortune who was at that time in Panama, and Hernando de
Luque, a Spanish cleric, a company to conquer the lands situated to
the south of Panama. Their project seemed so utterly unattainable
that the people of Panama called them the "company of lunatics".
Having collected the necessary funds Pizarro placed himself at the
head of the expedition; Almagro was entrusted with the equipping and
provisioning of the ships; and Luque was to remain behind to look
after their mutual interests and to keep in Pedrarias's favour so
that he might continue to support the enterprise. In November, 1524,
Pizarro set sail from Panama with a party of one hundred and
fourteen volunteers and four horses, and Almagro was to follow him
in a smaller ship just as soon as it could be made ready. The result
of the first expedition was disheartening. Pizarro went no further
than Punta Quemada, on the coast of what is now Colombia, and having
lost many of his men he went to Chicamá, a short distance from
Panama. From here he sent his treasurer, with the small quantity of
gold which he had obtained, to the governor to give an account of
the expedition. Meanwhile Almagro had followed him, going as far as
the Rio de San Juan (Cauca, Colombia), and, not finding him,
returned to rejoin him at Chicamá.
A second request to obtain Pedrarias's permission to recruit
volunteers for the expedition was met with hostility, because the
governor himself was planning an expedition to Nicaragua. Luque,
however, contrived to change his attitude, and the new governor, D.
Pedro de los Rios, was from the beginning favourably disposed
towards the expedition. On 10 March, 1528, the three partners signed
a contract, whereby they agreed to divide equally all the territory
that should be conquered and all the gold, silver, and precious
stones that should be found. They purchased two ships, and Pizarro
and Almagro directed their course to the mouth of the San Juan
River, where they separated. Pizarro remained with a portion of the
soldiers to explore the mainland; Almagro returned to Panama to get
re-enlistments; and the other ship under the command of Ruiz set
sail for the south. He went as far as Punta de Pasados, half a
degree south of the equator, and after making observations and
collecting an abundance of information, returned to Pizarro, who in
the meantime, together with his companions, had suffered severely.
Shortly afterwards Almagro arrived from Panama, bringing soldiers
and abundant provisions. Once more re-enforced they started together
taking a southerly route until they reached Tacamez, the extreme
south of Columbia. They then decided that Almagro should return to
Panama, and Pizarro should remain on the Island del Gallo to await
further re-enforcements. The arrival of Almagro and the news of the
sufferings of the explorers alarmed Pedro de los Rios, who sent two
ships to the Island del Gallo with orders to bring back all the
members of the expedition. Pizarro and thirteen of his companions
refused to return, and the little party was abandoned on the island.
Fearful of being molested by the inhabitants on account of their
reduced number, they built a raft and sought refuge on the Island of
Gorgona on the coasts of Columbia.
Meanwhile Almagro and Luque endeavoured to pacify the governor who
at last consented that a ship be sent, but only with a sufficient
force to man it, and with positive orders to Pizarro to present
himself at Panama within six months. When the ship arrived without
reinforcements Pizarro determined, with the aid of a few men that he
still had with him, to undertake an expedition southward. Skirting
the coast of the present Republic of Ecuador, he directed his course
towards the city of Tumbez in the north of what is now Peru. Seeing
that the natives were friendly towards him, he continued his voyage
as far as Payta, doubled the point of Aguja, and sailed along the
coast as far as the point where the city of Trujillo was later
founded. He was everywhere well received, for the Spaniards in
obedience to his strict orders had refrained from any excesses that
might have incurred the enmity of the Indians and endangered the
ultimate result of the expedition. Finally after an absence of
eighteen months Pizarro returned to Panama. Notwithstanding the gold
he brought and the glowing accounts he gave, the governor withdrew
his support and permission to continue the explorations. The three
partners then determined that Pizarro should go to Spain and lay his
plans before Charles V.
He landed in Seville in 1528 and was well received by the emperor,
then in Toledo, who was won by the account of the proposed
expedition, and, 26 June, 1529, signed the memorable agreement
(capitulation), in which the privileges and powers of Pizarro and
his associates were set forth. On the former, Charles conferred the
order of Knight of St. James, the titles of Adelantado, Governor and
Captain General, with absolute authority in all the territories he
might discover and subjugate. A government independent of that of
Panama was granted to him in perpetuity, extending two hundred
leagues to the south of the River Santiago, the boundary between
Colombia and Ecuador. He had the privilege of choosing the officers
who were to serve under him, of administering justice as chief
constable (alguacil), and his orders were revocable only by the
Consejo Real. Pizarro agreed to take 250 soldiers and provide the
boats and ammunition indispensable for such an expedition. He sailed
from Seville 18 January, 1530, taking with him his brothers,
Hernando, who was the only legitimate son, Juan, and Gonzalo, all of
whom were to play an important part in the history of Peru. Arrived
in Panama he had the task of pacifying his two associates who were
dissatisfied with the scant attention he had secured for them from
the Court. Early in January, 1531, Pizarro set sail from the port of
Panama with 3 ships, 180 men, and 27 cavaliers. Almagro and Luque
remained behind to procure further assistance and send
reinforcements. He landed in the Bay of San Mateo near the mouth of
the Santiago River, and started to explore the coast on foot. The
three boats were sent back to Panama for reinforcements.
The explorers passed by Puerto Viejo and came as far as the city of
Tumbez, where they embarked in some Indian rafts and passed over to
the Island of Puna in the Gulf of Guayaquil. Here they were hard
pressed by the attacks of the islanders, when relief came in the
form of two vessels with a hundred men and some horses commanded by
Hernando de Soto. Thus reinforced and knowing that the brothers
Atahuallpa and Huascar were at war with each other, Pizarro
determined to penetrate into the interior of the empire and left
Tumbez early in May, 1532. On 15 November, after a long, distressing
journey and without opposition from the Indians, he entered the city
of Caxamalca (now Caxamarca). Treacherously invited into the camp of
the Spaniards, the Indian prince Atahuallpa presented himself
accompanied by his bodyguard but unarmed. At a given signal the
Spaniards rushed upon the unsuspecting Indians, massacred them in
the most horrible manner, and took possession of their chief.
Deprived of its leader the great army that was encamped near
Caxamalca, not knowing what to do, retreated into the interior. As
the price of his release the Inca monarch offered his captives gold
enough to fill the room (22 by 17 feet) in which he was held
captive. In a few months the promise was fulfilled. Gold to the
amount of 4,605,670 ducats (15,000,000 pesos), according to
Garcilaso de la Vega, was accumulated and Atahuallpa claimed his
freedom. At this juncture Almagro arrived with soldiers to
strengthen their position, and naturally insisted that they too
should share in the booty. This was agreed to and after the fifth
part, the share of the king, had been set apart an adequate division
was made of the remainder, a share of $52,000 falling to the lot of
each soldier, even those who had come at the end. Notwithstanding
Atahuallpa was accused and executed 24 June, 1534.
From Caxamalca he passed to the capital of the Incas, while his
lieutenants were obtaining possession of all the remaining
territory. In order to keep the Indians together Pizarro had Manco
Capac, an Inca, crowned king, and on 6 January, 1535, founded the
city of Lima. He obliged Pedro de Alvarado, who had come from
Guatemala in search of adventure, to return to his own territory,
and sent his brother Hernando to Spain to give an account to the
Court of the new empire he had united to the Crown. He was well
received by the emperor, who conferred on Pizarro the title of
marquess and extended the limits of his territory seventy leagues
further along the southern coast. The title of Adelantado, besides
that of Governor of Chile, which, however, had not yet been
conquered, was conferred on Diego de Almagro. Luque was no longer
living. Almagro at once set about the conquest of Chile, taking with
him all those who were willing to follow.
Manco Capac was meanwhile trying to foment an uprising in the whole
of Peru, actually besieging the cities of Lima and Cuzco. The
arrival of Alonso de Alvarado, brother of the companion of Cortés,
saved Lima, but Cuzco, where the three brothers of Pizarro were, was
only saved by the return of Almagro from his expedition to Chile and
his claim that the city of Cuzco was situated in the territory which
had been assigned to him in the royal decrees. The Indians were put
to flight, Almagro took forcible possession of the city, April,
1537, and made Hernando and Gonzalo prisoners, Juan having died.
Troops, however, were hurrying from Lima to the rescue; Almagro was
defeated, taken prisoner, and executed, July, 1538. Hernando went to
Spain but was not received well at the Court; he was imprisoned
until 1560, and died at the age of one hundred almost in dire
poverty. Gonzalo launched on his intrepid expedition to explore the
Amazon, returning to find that his brother Francisco was no more.
The followers of Almagro, offended by the arrogant conduct of
Pizarro and his followers after the defeat and execution of Almagro,
organized a conspiracy which ended in Pizarro's assassination of the
conqueror of Peru in his palace at Lima.
Pizarro had four children: a son whose name and the name of his
mother are not known, and who died in 1544; Gonzalo by an Indian
girl, Inés Huaillas Yupanqui, who was legitimized in 1537 and died
when he was fourteen; by the same woman, a daughter, Francisca, who
subsequently married after having been legitimized by imperial
decree, together with her uncle Hernando Pizarro, 10 October, 1537;
and a son, Francisco, by a relative of Atahuallpa, who was never
legitimized, and died shortly after reaching Spain.
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913
Back to: The Spanish Conquerors
