Francisco Pizarro

Timeline

1. c. 1478–1513Trujillo · EuropePizarro was born an illegitimate child in Trujillo, Extremadura, Spain, and was poor and illiterate in his youth. Around 1502 he went to the New World, taking part in early colonial activities on Hispaniola and in Darién (Panama), and in 1513 joined Balboa's expedition in the first crossing of the isthmus, catching sight of the Pacific Ocean.
2. 1524–1530Panama City · the AmericasPizarro, Diego de Almagro, and the priest Hernando de Luque jointly financed two expeditions south along the western coast of South America in 1524 and 1526, enduring great hardship and learning of the Inca Empire's wealth. In 1528 Pizarro personally traveled to Spain and obtained from Charles I a charter authorizing the conquest of Peru (the Agreement of Toledo).
3. 1532–1535Cajamarca / Cuzco · South AmericaIn November 1532 Pizarro led about 168 men in an ambush at Cajamarca, capturing the Inca emperor Atahualpa. After a huge ransom of gold (filling a hall) was delivered, he still had Atahualpa executed in August 1533. He then conquered Cuzco and overthrew the Inca Empire. In January 1535 Pizarro founded the new coastal city of Lima as the administrative center of the colony.
4. 1537–1541Lima · South AmericaPizarro and his ally Almagro fell out over the division of spoils, and armed conflict erupted between them (the Almagro War). Pizarro had Almagro executed in 1538, but Almagro's supporters broke into the viceroy's palace in Lima on June 26, 1541, and assassinated Pizarro, ending his controversial life.