Francisco Pizarro stands as one of the most controversial and successful conquerors in world history. He overthrew the massive Inca Empire with only a handful of men and changed the map of South America forever. While many recognize his name for its ties to gold and conquest, his personal journey involved a truly desperate rise from nothing. Indeed, he spent his youth as a humble pig farmer before he eventually navigated the halls of the Spanish royal court. Furthermore, his life remains a tale of brutal ambition and shocking survival.
Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro was born as an illegitimate son and grew up in extreme poverty in Trujillo, Spain. Because his parents gave him no formal education, he remained completely illiterate for his entire life. Therefore, he never learned to read or write a single word of his own name.
A popular legend says that he worked as a swineherd during his difficult childhood. According to stories, he spent his young days tending to pigs to earn enough food to survive. Some even claim a cow suckled him as an infant after his mother abandoned him on church steps.
He was a distant cousin to Hernán Cortés, the man who famously conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico. Despite their family connection, Pizarro had to find his own path to fame and fortune. Consequently, he spent many years serving as a simple soldier before leading his own expeditions.
Pizarro participated in the historic expedition that first discovered the Pacific Ocean for Europe in 1513. He served as a captain under Vasco Núñez de Balboa during the grueling trek across the Isthmus of Panama. This experience gave him the skills he needed for his later conquests.
He once served as the mayor of Panama City for several years before he ever reached Peru. During this time, he accumulated a small fortune and a cattle ranch. However, stories of a “City of Gold” to the south eventually tempted him to risk everything on a new adventure.
During a desperate moment on an island, Pizarro drew a line in the sand with his sword. He challenged his men to cross the line if they wished to continue the dangerous journey toward Peru. Only thirteen men stepped over the line, and history now remembers them as “The Famous Thirteen.”
He successfully captured the Inca Emperor Atahualpa with an army of fewer than 200 soldiers. In contrast, the Emperor arrived at their meeting with thousands of elite warriors and attendants. Pizarro used a surprise attack and superior steel weapons to seize the ruler in minutes.
The Inca Emperor offered to fill a large room with gold and silver as a ransom for his freedom. He famously reached as high as he could on the wall to show the height of the treasure. Even though the Incas paid the massive fortune, Pizarro still ordered the Emperor’s execution.
Pizarro founded the city of Lima in 1535 and named it the “City of the Kings.” He designed the city to serve as the new Spanish capital because it sat conveniently near the coast. Today, Lima remains the massive and bustling capital of modern Peru.
He brought four of his half-brothers along on his third and most successful expedition to South America. He trusted his family members more than any other officers in his ranks. Thus, the Pizarro brothers effectively ruled the conquered territories as a powerful family dynasty.
Pizarro once shared a business pact with a soldier named Diego de Almagro to split all future spoils. However, their partnership turned into a violent rivalry over the control of the city of Cusco. This bitter feud eventually led to a civil war between the two groups of conquistadors.
The Spanish King Charles V granted Pizarro a coat of arms that featured a map of Peru. This was a rare honor for a man of such humble and illegitimate beginnings. Specifically, the crown rewarded his success with the noble title of Marquis.
Pizarro died a violent and protracted death in his own palace in 1541. A group of his rivals, led by the son of his former partner Almagro, broke in to assassinate him. During his final moments, he allegedly drew a cross in his own blood on the floor.
His remains rested in a hidden crypt beneath the Cathedral of Lima for centuries before being rediscovered in 1977. For a long time, people thought a different set of bones belonged to the conquistador. Scientists used forensic tests to finally confirm his true identity.
Finally, Pizarro introduced the first horses to the South American continent during his invasion. The Incas had never seen such large animals and originally thought the rider and horse were a single, terrifying monster. This psychological advantage helped Pizarro win many early battles.
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate it!
This AI-assisted post was rigorously curated and fact-checked for accuracy by:
