Pizarro, Francisco

Pizarro, Francisco (about 1471-1541), Spanish conqueror of Peru.

Little is known of Francisco Pizarro's early life. He probably had little schooling and he never learned to read.

He traveled to the New World of America in 1502 and settled on the island of Hispaniola.

Later he moved to present-day Panama and went with Vasco Nunez de Balboa on an expedition across the isthmus to the Pacific Ocean.

He heard of a rich empire in South America and in 1524-25 sailed southwards in the Pacific looking for it. His search failed, but in 1526 he tried again and reached Peru.

On his return, Pizarro went back to Spain and asked King Charles V for permission to conquer Peru. Permission was given and Pizarro sailed from Panama in 1531 with his two brothers, Hernando and Gonzalo, and 180 soldiers.

Within four years he had conquered the Inca empire of Peru and founded the present capital city of Lima. From there he ruled Peru, putting down revolts by the Incas and Spanish rivals. He was finally murdered by a band of Spaniards.

See Kim MacQuarrie The Last Days of the Incas