Conquistadors

Conquistadors In 1532, Francisco Pizarro led around 160 spanish conquistadors to discover the great Inca Empire. Pizarro declared war on the Inca while kidnapping Emperor Atahualpa. They later marched on Cuzco itself.

Francisco Pizarro was the son of a Spanish soldier and a household servant. When he was younger, Francisco was illiterate so he took care of the family pigs. He wanted to follow in his father's footsteps so he became a soldier, being in Spain’s wars in Europe before following tales of Aztec gold to the New World. The reputation he made for himself was that of a tough fighting man, and by 1525, he was already one of the most popular citizens in Panama. By 1540 Francisco and his brothers had explored western South America and defeated the Inca Empire.

Hernando Pizarro became his brother’s right-hand man in no time. He was the most pleasant of the brothers (which isn’t saying to much), but was also good at fight and a skilled horseman. After Hernando led an army (that Fransico raised) to defeated and executed Almagro, he spent 20 years in prison and never returned to Peru. He is the only Pizarro brother to die of natural causes.

Juan Pizarro was the most reckless of the brothers. He was also the most skilled fighter and horseman of the Pizarro brothers. He was very cruel and violent so he often kidnapped and tortured Inca leaders for information on hidden treasures and other leaders. He ended dying from a stone to the head in one of the battles against the Inca Empire.

Gonzalo Pizarro was the youngest brother and, like Juan, was greedy and cruel. When the two were left in charge, the constantly tormented puppet leader Manco Inca. Manco’s wife, Cura Ocllo, even left Manco for Gonzalo. Francisco was killed in 1541 which made Gonzalo the last living brother in Peru (Hernando still being in prison in Spain). Because of this, He became leader of the old conquistadors that were now settlers. Gonzalo was executed for treason in 1548 for a rebellion he led in 1542 for “New Laws” being passed. These “New Laws” protected natives from the worst abuses from their new Spanish lords.

By: Joanna James