How Pizarro ruthlessly brought down the mighty Inca empire

Francisco Pizarro began his life in humble surroundings. Born around 1478 in Trujillo, Spain, Pizarro's early years were marked by relative obscurity.

The illegitimate son of Gonzalo Pizarro Rodríguez de Aguilar, an infantry colonel, and Francisca González, a woman of modest means, Pizarro grew up without the privileges of nobility or the advantages of a formal education.

His upbringing was typical of many in rural Spain, filled with challenges and limited opportunities.

Pizarro showed early signs of the ambition and resilience that would later define his career.

In 1502, at the age of about 24, he embarked on his first voyage to the New World.

He arrived in Hispaniola, the island that today houses the nations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as part of an expedition led by Nicolás de Ovando, the newly appointed governor of the Spanish colony.

This experience opened Pizarro's eyes to the vast possibilities that lay across the Atlantic.

He participated in various expeditions that were crucial in shaping his knowledge of military and colonial affairs.

His involvement in the conquest of Panama alongside Alonso de Ojeda in 1513 further sharpened his skills and understanding of the complexities of New World colonization.

It was during these formative years in Panama where Pizarro forged a partnership with Diego de Almagro and Hernando de Luque, relationships that would prove instrumental in his later conquests.

By the 1520s, Pizarro had established himself as a man of influence in the colonial administration of Panama.

After his initial experiences in Hispaniola and Panama, Pizarro embarked on a series of exploratory missions that would ultimately lead to his most significant conquest.

His first notable expedition was in 1513, under the leadership of Vasco Núñez de Balboa, where Pizarro played a key role in the European discovery of the Pacific Ocean, a momentous event that expanded the horizons of Spanish exploration.

In 1524, driven by rumors of a wealthy empire to the south, Pizarro formed a partnership with Diego de Almagro and Hernando de Luque to explore and conquer this unknown territory.

This venture, funded by de Luque and authorized by the Governor of Panama, marked the beginning of Pizarro's quest for the Inca Empire.

The first expedition, launched in 1524, proved to be a challenging ordeal, with harsh conditions and hostile encounters leading to its eventual abandonment without significant discoveries.

Undeterred, Pizarro embarked on a second expedition in 1526, which led him along the coast of South America.

This journey brought him into contact with the Inca Empire for the first time, near present-day Ecuador.

Despite glimpses of the empire's wealth, challenges such as disease, lack of food, and resistance from local tribes forced Pizarro to return to Panama.

However, his resolve remained unshaken.

In 1528, Pizarro traveled to Spain to seek support from Emperor Charles V.

His efforts were rewarded with the Capitulación de Toledo, granting him the rights to conquer the territory.

Armed with this royal endorsement, Pizarro launched his third and most decisive expedition in 1531.

With a small force of about 180 men, including 37 horses, he landed on the Peruvian coast near Tumbes and began his march inland towards the heart of the Inca Empire.

Upon landing on the Peruvian coast, Pizarro and his men, though vastly outnumbered, ventured into the heart of the Inca Empire, exploiting a period of civil war between the Inca ruler Atahualpa and his brother Huáscar.

In November 1532, Pizarro made his most audacious move at Cajamarca. He invited Atahualpa to a meeting, promising peace and friendship.

The Inca ruler, confident in his own strength and curious about the Europeans, arrived with a large retinue but without weapons, as a sign of goodwill.

Pizarro's men, hidden and armed, launched a surprise attack, slaughtering thousands of Incas and capturing Atahualpa.

This event, now known as the Massacre of Cajamarca, marked a turning point in the conquest.

Pizarro's next move was to exploit his captive. He used Atahualpa to control the Inca Empire and demanded a huge ransom for his release.

Atahualpa, in an attempt to regain his freedom, offered a room filled with gold and silver, leading to an immense accumulation of treasure.

Despite receiving the ransom, Pizarro executed Atahualpa in July 1533, citing various charges including plotting a rebellion, practicing idolatry, and murdering his brother Huáscar.

Following Atahualpa's death, Pizarro continued his campaign, facing little organized resistance.

By November 1533, Pizarro had captured Cusco, the Inca capital, which became a significant moment in the Spanish conquest.

Pizarro installed a puppet ruler, Manco Inca, but the relationship soon deteriorated, leading to further conflicts and rebellions against Spanish rule.

Francisco Pizarro the assumed the role of governor over the newly established Spanish territory in Peru.

In 1535, he founded the city of Lima, which he envisioned as the capital of the Spanish holdings in South America.

This city would become a central hub for Spanish colonial administration and trade in the continent.

As governor, Pizarro's rule was characterized by efforts to consolidate Spanish authority over the vast and diverse territories of the former Inca Empire.

He implemented Spanish laws and governance structures, replacing the existing Inca systems.

However, his administration was often marked by brutality and exploitation, particularly in his treatment of the indigenous population.

The encomienda system was introduced, which essentially granted Spanish settlers control over native villages and their labor, leading to significant abuse and hardship for the indigenous people.

His relationship with Diego de Almagro, once a close ally, deteriorated over disputes about the distribution of land and power.

This rivalry culminated in the Battle of Las Salinas in 1538, where Pizarro's forces defeated and subsequently executed Almagro.

This victory solidified Pizarro's control but sowed the seeds of future discord among the Spanish ranks.

Despite his military and political successes, rebellions and uprisings were frequent, as the indigenous population resisted Spanish rule.

The most notable of these was the rebellion led by Manco Inca in 1536, which posed a serious threat to Pizarro's authority, though it was eventually suppressed.

Pizarro's tenure as governor also saw the continuation of Spanish exploration and expansion in the region.

He sponsored expeditions, seeking to extend Spanish dominion further into the continent and to exploit its resources, especially silver and gold.

After the execution of Diego de Almagro in 1538, Pizarro faced growing discontent among the Spanish settlers and soldiers in Peru.

Many were dissatisfied with the distribution of wealth and land, and the tension was exacerbated by the arrival of new Spanish officials, sent by the crown to assert more direct control over the colonies.

These officials often challenged Pizarro's authority, creating a rift between the governor and the Spanish monarchy.

The situation worsened with the emergence of Diego de Almagro II, the son of Pizarro's former ally and rival.

Almagro II sought to avenge his father's death and gathered a group of followers, fueling further instability and conflict.

Pizarro, now in his sixties, faced not only external threats but also the challenges of maintaining his grip on power amidst the growing dissent within his ranks.

Pizarro's rule came to a sudden and violent end on June 26, 1541. A group of men led by Diego de Almagro II stormed Pizarro's palace in Lima.

In a brutal struggle, Pizarro, aged about 65, was fatally wounded and died, leaving behind a region still grappling with the consequences of his conquests.

His death marked a significant moment in the history of Spanish colonialism in the Americas, signaling the end of an era of conquest and the beginning of a more complex period of colonial administration and conflict.

Pizarro's actions led to the rapid expansion of Spanish influence in the New World.

His conquest opened up the vast wealth of the Andes to the Spanish crown, significantly bolstering Spain's economic and political power on the global stage.

The influx of gold and silver from the Americas into Europe had far-reaching economic consequences, contributing to both the wealth of the Spanish Empire and broader economic shifts in Europe.

However, the legacy of Pizarro is also marked by the devastating impact on the indigenous populations.

The conquest led to the collapse of the Inca Empire, one of the most advanced civilizations in the Americas.

This collapse was not just a result of military conquest but also of the diseases brought by the Europeans, which decimated the indigenous population.

The cultural, religious, and social structures of the Incas were irreversibly altered, leading to the loss of countless aspects of their rich heritage.

Pizarro's governance model set a precedent for Spanish colonial rule in the Americas.

The encomienda system he implemented, which granted Spanish settlers control over indigenous labor, laid the foundation for economic exploitation and severe mistreatment of native peoples.

This system had long-lasting effects on the social and economic development of the region and contributed to the deep social divisions that persist to this day.

In modern times, Pizarro remains a controversial figure. In some circles, he is remembered as a bold and cunning leader who expanded the boundaries of the known world and brought riches and power to Spain.

However, he is also viewed as a symbol of oppression and the destructive forces of colonialism.

Monuments and references to Pizarro in Peru and Spain continue to provoke debate about how history should remember figures like him, who played a central role in shaping the modern world but at a tremendous human cost.