Francisco Pizarro

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Francisco Pizarro

Q: What was Francisco Pizarro’s childhood like?

Francisco Pizarro was the illegitimate son of Capt. Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisca González. He lived with his grandparents, and, according to legend, he was for a time a swineherd. During his early adulthood, he voyaged to Hispaniola and was part of Vasco Núñez de Balboa ’s expedition credited with the European discovery of the Pacific Ocean .

Q: How did Francisco Pizarro become famous?

In 1523 Francisco Pizarro embarked upon the adventure that was to lead to his lasting fame—the exploration of South America ’s west coast. Over the course of several expeditions, Pizarro explored as far as 9° S, obtaining distinct accounts of a great Indian empire in Peru and many Inca artifacts.

Q: What is Francisco Pizarro best known for?

In 1531 Francisco Pizarro’s expedition of 180 men and 37 horses sailed to the Inca empire in Peru. A Spanish priest met with the Inca emperor Atahuallpa , exhorting him to accept Christianity and Charles V . After Atahuallpa refused, Pizarro’s forces attacked, captured, and later executed Atahuallpa, enabling Pizarro to occupy Cuzco , effectively conquering the empire.

Q: How did Francisco Pizarro die?

Francisco Pizarro once formed a pact with Diego de Almagro to share in the spoils of their expeditions. After Cuzco fell, Pizarro and Almagro became rivals, and Almagro was later executed by Pizarro’s brother Hernando. Almagro’s son and his adherents, fearing their own elimination, attacked Pizarro’s palace and killed him on June 26, 1541.

Spanish explorer

Written by Manuel Ballesteros-Gaibrois

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Apr 2, 2024 • Article History

Francisco Pizarro

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Category: History & Society

Born:: c. 1475, Trujillo, Extremadura, Castile [Spain]

Died:: June 26, 1541, Lima [now in Peru]

Founder:: Lima

Role In:: Battle of Cajamarca; Battle of Cuzco

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What was Francisco Pizarro’s childhood like?

How did Francisco Pizarro become famous?

What is Francisco Pizarro best known for?

How did Francisco Pizarro die?

Francisco Pizarro (born c. 1475, Trujillo, Extremadura, Castile [Spain]—died June 26, 1541, Lima [now in Peru]) was a Spanish conqueror of the Inca empire and founder of the city of Lima. Pizarro was the illegitimate son of Captain Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisca González, a young girl of humble birth. He spent much of his early life in the home of his grandparents. According to legend he was for a time a swineherd, a not unlikely possibility since this was a common occupation of boys in that region. He doubtless participated in local manorial wars and, when these were ended, very ...(100 of 1106 words)

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