Francisco Pizarro
Born 1478 · Age 547
Spanish conquistador who led the expeditions that conquered the Inca Empire; founder of Lima and Governor of New Castile.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Trujillo, Crown of Castile
Born illegitimate son of Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisca González in Trujillo (modern Extremadura, Spain).
Sailed to the New World with Alonso de Ojeda
Left Spain for the Gulf of Urabá with Alonso de Ojeda, taking part in Ojeda's ill-fated colony attempt.
Crossed the Isthmus with Vasco Núñez de Balboa (Pacific discovery)
Accompanied Balboa in the expedition credited with the European discovery of the Pacific Ocean (from the Americas).
Assigned a repartimiento by Governor Pedro Arias Dávila
Rewarded for loyalty with a repartimiento (allocation) of natives and cattle while serving under Governor Pedro Arias Dávila.
Arrest of Vasco Núñez de Balboa (leading to Balboa's execution)
Per orders of Governor Pedro Arias Dávila, Pizarro arrested Balboa, who was tried and beheaded in January 1519.
Mayor (Alcalde) and magistrate of Panama City
Served as mayor and magistrate of newly founded Panama City; tenure recorded as 1519–1523.
Begins major push to explore west South America
Around this time began organizing voyages down the west coast of South America that would lead to the conquest of Peru.
Forms partnership 'Empresa del Levante' (Pizarro–Almagro–Luque)
Entered an oral partnership with Diego de Almagro and priest Hernando de Luque to explore and conquer the southern coast (Empresa del Levante).
First expedition to South America (failed)
First of three reconnaissance voyages left Panama with ~80 men and 4 horses; turned back due to weather, shortage and native resistance.
Bartolomé Ruiz crosses the equator and seizes a Peruvian balsa
Pilot Bartolomé Ruiz crossed the equator, captured a balsa (raft) carrying textiles, gold, silver and emeralds — first clear evidence of wealthy southern lands.
Second expedition departs Panama
Left Panama with two ships, ~160 men and horses; expedition separated and later reconvened after sightings of Peruvian goods.
Line-in-the-sand and the 'Famous Thirteen'
At Isla de Gallo, Pizarro drew a line offering men the choice to return to Panama or continue south; 13 men stayed with him ('Los trece de la fama').
Returns to Spain to petition the king
Sailed from Panama to Spain (spring 1528) carrying native interpreters, llamas and samples of gold and fabrics to seek royal backing.
Reached Tumbes and saw Peruvian wealth (first visit to Tumbes)
After months at sea they reached the Tumbes region (NW Peru); Spanish encountered llamas and evidence of Inca rule and riches.
Capitulación de Toledo signed (royal commission)
Queen/king issued the Capitulación (6 July 1529) granting Pizarro authority to conquer and govern New Castile; set conditions to raise troops.
Officially named Governor & Captain General of New Castile
Assumed the title (Governor of New Castile); infobox lists his term starting 26 July 1529 and lasting until his death (26 June 1541).
Francisco de Orellana joins Pizarro's venture
Explorer Francisco de Orellana joined Pizarro's expedition; he later discovered and navigated the Amazon River.
Sails clandestinely from Sanlúcar de Barrameda to La Gomera
Unable to formally meet troop quotas, Pizarro sailed clandestinely in Jan 1530 to La Gomera; joined there by brother Hernando and others.
Pizarro's expedition composition (ships/horses)
When the final 1530–31 expedition set sail in stages it involved three ships, roughly 180 men and about 27 horses (recorded in accounts).
Could not meet Capitulación troop quota; sailed clandestinely
Capitulación required 250 men (100 from colonies); Pizarro could not raise the number and sailed clandestinely to gather forces.
Third (final) expedition leaves Panama for Peru
Pizarro's final expedition departed Panama on 27 Dec 1530 with three ships, ~180 men and 27 horses (sources vary slightly).
Lands near Ecuador and fights at Puná
Landed on coasts near Ecuador (Coaque and Esmeraldas), procured gold/silver; fought the Punian natives at the Battle of Puná with casualties on both sides.
Use of interpreters Felipillo and Martinillo
Pizarro obtained indigenous interpreters (baptized Felipillo and Martinillo) who served as vital linguistic intermediaries during the conquest.
Founds San Miguel de Piura (first Spanish settlement in Peru)
Established the first Spanish settlement and a repartimiento at San Miguel de Piura in May 1532 to secure a foothold inland.
Advances inland with 200 men
Left Piura and set out with about 200 men on 24 September 1532 to seek the Inca ruler's forces and riches.
Arrives at Cajamarca and sets ambush
Reached Cajamarca (15 Nov 1532) where the small Spanish force prepared to meet Atahualpa in the plaza the following day.
Battle of Cajamarca; capture of Atahualpa
On 16 Nov 1532 Pizarro's forces ambushed and overwhelmed Atahualpa's retinue; Atahualpa was taken captive in Cajamarca's plaza fortress.
Royal displeasure noted after Atahualpa's death
King Charles later expressed displeasure over Atahualpa's execution; demonstrates tension between colonial actions and crown views.
Atahualpa's trials and charges
Atahualpa was charged with multiple offenses (including fratricide) by a Spanish commission before his execution.
Pizarro praises Cuzco's wealth in reports to King Charles
Reported to the Spanish crown that Cuzco was 'the greatest and finest' city and stressed its riches as a motive for conquest/control.
Atahualpa's ransom delivered
Atahualpa filled a large chamber with gold (the famed ransom); the treasure was gathered and shipped but Atahualpa was later tried and condemned.
Execution of Atahualpa
Despite the ransom, Atahualpa was convicted by a Spanish court and executed by garrote on 29 August 1533 (Pizarro consented amid troop pressure).
Spanish enter and occupy Cuzco
Pizarro and his forces entered the Inca capital of Cuzco on 15 November 1533, sealing Spanish control over the heart of the Inca empire.
Establishes Jauja as provisional capital
Founded Jauja in the Mantaro Valley as a temporary capital in April 1534 before selecting a coastal site for the permanent seat.
Founds the city of Lima
On 6 January 1535 Pizarro founded Lima (Ciudad de los Reyes), which he considered among his greatest accomplishments.
Manco Inca's siege of Cuzco
Manco Inca led a major uprising and siege of Cuzco in early 1536; prolonged warfare followed between Incas and Spaniards.
Marriage of Francisca Pizarro Yupanqui to Hernando Pizarro
Pizarro's daughter Francisca (daughter of Pizarro and Inés Yupanqui) married her uncle Hernando Pizarro in Spain on 10 Oct 1537.
Political consolidation and elimination of rival claims
After defeating Almagro's faction, the Pizarro brothers consolidated political control in Peru though factional violence persisted.
Public knowledge of Doña Angelina's children with Pizarro
By 1538 it was known that Doña Angelina (Inés Yupanqui / Atahualpa's sister/mistress) had borne Pizarro two sons, Juan and Francisco.
Battle of Las Salinas and execution of Diego de Almagro
Following jurisdictional disputes, the Pizarro brothers defeated Almagro at Las Salinas (1538); Almagro was captured and executed.
Administrative acts: encomienda cédulas and petitions
Pizarro issued administrative documents such as encomienda grants and responses to petitions while governing New Castile (documents archived).
Initial burial in Lima Cathedral
Pizarro's remains were interred in the cathedral courtyard; later the head and body were separated and placed under the cathedral floor.
Assassination in Lima
On 26 June 1541 supporters of Diego de Almagro II (El Mozo) stormed Pizarro's palace and fatally wounded him; he died that day.
Exhumation and display (glass coffin) in Lima (1892)
A body believed to be Pizarro's was exhumed and displayed in a glass coffin for the Columbus anniversary preparations in 1892.
Rumsey's mounted statue presented to Trujillo (1926)
Charles Cary Rumsey's mounted statue of Pizarro was presented to Trujillo, Spain by the sculptor's widow in 1926 (later transported/replicated).
Ramsay MacDonald statue placed in Lima (1934)
A copy of a sculpted conquistador by Ramsay MacDonald was taken to Lima in 1934 and repurposed to represent Pizarro in public spaces.
Mounted statue moved to Plaza Pizarro (1952)
The mounted statue of Pizarro in Lima was relocated in 1952 to the Plaza Pizarro from its earlier cathedral atrium location.
Discovery of a sealed lead box containing a skull (1977)
Workers found a sealed lead box inscribed as Pizarro's head; this prompted later forensic testing and re-evaluation of remains.
Forensic examination of remains
A U.S.-led forensic team (William R. Maples et al.) examined two candidate bodies and concluded the lead-box skull showed wounds consistent with Pizarro's death.
Statue relocation to Parque de La Muralla (2003)
In 2003 the main mounted statue was removed from storage and placed in Parque de La Muralla on a concrete base (pedestal absent).
Statue moved to pedestrian street near Plaza Mayor (Jan 15, 2025)
On 15 January 2025 the mounted statue was moved to a pedestrian street adjacent to Lima's Plaza Mayor ahead of the city's 490th anniversary.
Inauguration of statue's new placement (Jan 18, 2025)
The statue with its pedestal was inaugurated as part of Lima's 490th anniversary celebrations on 18 January 2025.
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