Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro was one of the cruelest Spanish conquistadors. He is most famous for conquering the Inca Empire in Peru. He was also part of the expedition led by Vasco Núñez de Balboa that discovered the Pacific. Pizarro’s victory over the Incas is considered to be the most astonishing and most incredible military accomplishment in history. Pizarro was inspired by Hernando Cortés and his defeat over the great Aztec empire. Pizarro, like Cortés, wanted fame, glory, and fortune by coming to the New World.
When Francisco Pizarro learned of the Inca Empire, he thought it would be a great opportunity for him to become famous and to make a fortune. He decided to conquer the great Inca Empire. In 1524, Pizarro and two ships set sail for Peru. However they were unsuccessful and had to turn back. On his second attempt, his ships successfully made it to the coast of Peru. He returned to Panama, where he lived, with gold, llamas, and Indians.
In 1528, Francisco Pizarro returned to Spain to get permission from Charles V, king of Spain, to conquer Peru for Spain. Charles supplied him with funds for the expedition. Pizarro returned to Panama and organized the expedition. He had fewer than 200 men, and he himself was already 56 years of age. The Inca population was over 6 million.
When he reached Peru in 1532, Pizarro and his 177 men and 62 horses went inland to the Andes Mountains, to a town where the Inca ruler, Atahualpa, was staying. Atahualpa had 40,000 armed warriors. The Inca ruler made a huge mistake and met with Pizarro accompanied by only 5,000 unarmed troops. Atahualpa could have attacked the small Spanish force with all of his armed men, but instead decided to risk defeat and go unarmed with only a small portion of his men.
Pizarro did not pass up his opportunity and attacked the 5,000 unarmed men with his 177 armed men. This massacre lasted only a half hour. No Spanish soldier was killed. Pizarro was the only one wounded, while trying to capture Atahualpa
When Francisco Pizarro learned of the Inca Empire, he thought it would be a great opportunity for him to become famous and to make a fortune. He decided to conquer the great Inca Empire. In 1524, Pizarro and two ships set sail for Peru. However they were unsuccessful and had to turn back. On his second attempt, his ships successfully made it to the coast of Peru. He returned to Panama, where he lived, with gold, llamas, and Indians.
In 1528, Francisco Pizarro returned to Spain to get permission from Charles V, king of Spain, to conquer Peru for Spain. Charles supplied him with funds for the expedition. Pizarro returned to Panama and organized the expedition. He had fewer than 200 men, and he himself was already 56 years of age. The Inca population was over 6 million.
When he reached Peru in 1532, Pizarro and his 177 men and 62 horses went inland to the Andes Mountains, to a town where the Inca ruler, Atahualpa, was staying. Atahualpa had 40,000 armed warriors. The Inca ruler made a huge mistake and met with Pizarro accompanied by only 5,000 unarmed troops. Atahualpa could have attacked the small Spanish force with all of his armed men, but instead decided to risk defeat and go unarmed with only a small portion of his men.
Pizarro did not pass up his opportunity and attacked the 5,000 unarmed men with his 177 armed men. This massacre lasted only a half hour. No Spanish soldier was killed. Pizarro was the only one wounded, while trying to capture Atahualpa