Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that conquered the Inca Empire in Peru. He was born in Trujillo, Spain, in 1471.
Pizarro went to the New World in 1502 and served in the Spanish army in Hispaniola and Panama. In 1524, he led an expedition to Peru in search of gold. The expedition was successful, and Pizarro returned to Panama with a large amount of gold.
Also Read: Famous Spanish Conquistadors in World History
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In 1531, Pizarro led a second expedition to Peru. This time, he was accompanied by his brothers, Hernando, Gonzalo, and Juan, and a small army of Spanish soldiers.
The expedition landed in Peru and marched inland. They encountered the Inca army at Cajamarca in 1532. The Incas were outnumbered and outgunned, and they were defeated. The Inca emperor Atahualpa was captured and executed.
The Spanish victory at Cajamarca opened the door to the conquest of the Inca Empire. Pizarro and his men marched to Cuzco, the Inca capital, and took control of the city. They installed a puppet Inca emperor, Manco Inca Yupanqui, and began to loot the Inca treasury.
The Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire changed the political landscape of the New World in South America.
Pizarro was killed in 1541 by a group of disgruntled Spanish soldiers. He was succeeded by his brother, Hernando.
The Pizarro brothers continued to rule Peru for several years, but they were eventually overthrown by a group of Spanish colonists.
Family Overview
He was born illegitimate as was his other brothers. They would grow up to become a powerful force in the New World but unfortunately would meet a harsh end to their lives.
His father was a soldier and no doubt instilled into each of his sons a warrior mentality. Their mother was probably a commoner.
Each Pizarro had to join the military and earn their way into leadership. They did not have noble blood and all their success was due to their ability.
Francisco Pizarro did not legitimately marry the mother of his children. She was already married when he conquered the country and he then took her as a wife. The two had at least two children.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Gonzalo Pizarro (1446–1522) - He was an infantry colonel and had many illegitimate sons that he would raise. These boys would grow up to dominate the landscape of the New World.
Francisca González (unknown) - A mistress to Gonzalo. There is no record of the two being married yet she bore 5 sons to him.
Spouse:
It is possible that Francisco Pizarro had another family or many illegitimate children that are not in the records.
Inés Huaylas Yupanqui (1518 – 1559) - She was an Incan princess who was married to Incan royalty prior to the nation being conquered. She would then cohabitate with Francisco Pizarro and the couple would have two children together.
Children:
Francisca Pizarro Yupanqui (unknown) - The firstborn of Francisco Pizarro and Ines. She would be separated from her mother and taken to Spain.
Gonzalo Pizarro (unknown) - The child died young.
Siblings:
Gonzalo Pizarro (1502-1548) - He was the second oldest Pizarro brother and was the most ambitious of the group. He led a rebellion against the Spanish crown in Peru after Francisco's death but was defeated and executed.
Juan Pizarro (1509-1536) - He was the third oldest Pizarro brother and was the most popular of the group. He was killed in battle against the Incas in 1536.
Hernando Pizarro (1503-1578) - He was the oldest Pizarro brother and was the most cautious of the group. He served as Governor of Peru after Francisco's death and was eventually recalled to Spain by the Spanish crown.
Francisco Martín de Alcántara (1514-1548) - He was the full-blood brother of Francisco Pizarro and was the youngest of the group. He was killed in battle against the Incas in 1548.