Conquistador · 1478 – 1541
Francisco Pizarro
Key Takeaways
- Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire with a tiny Spanish force.
- He captured and executed the Inca emperor Atahualpa.
- He seized vast quantities of Inca gold and silver for Spain.
- He founded the city of Lima as the capital of Spanish Peru.
With fewer than two hundred men, Francisco Pizarro destroyed the largest empire in the Americas. The Spanish conquistador’s conquest of the Inca was a feat of audacity and treachery that changed the history of a continent.
The conquest of the Inca
Inspired by the success of Hernán Cortés against the Aztecs, Pizarro led a small band into the Andes in 1532, arriving as the Inca Empire reeled from civil war. At Cajamarca he ambushed and captured the emperor Atahualpa, extracted a room full of gold and silver as ransom, then executed him — paralyzing and then dismantling the empire.
Empire and ruin
Pizarro seized the Inca capital, founded Lima as the seat of Spanish Peru, and sent a fortune in Andean silver flowing back to the Spanish Empire. His conquest, in the age of exploration, brought Spain immense wealth and brought devastation to the Andean world. Fittingly for so violent an age, this conquistador was himself assassinated by rival Spaniards in Lima in 1541.
Led a tiny Spanish force to topple the vast Inca Empire, captured the emperor Atahualpa, looted its gold and silver, and founded Lima, opening South America to Spanish rule.
Military Feats
- Ambushed and captured the Inca emperor at Cajamarca.
- Seized the Inca capital and dismantled the empire.
Historical influence score: 79/100
Influence
Pizarro's conquest delivered the riches of the Andes to Spain and ended the Inca Empire, reshaping South America for centuries under Spanish rule.
Legacy
Founder of Spanish Peru, he is remembered as a ruthless conqueror whose actions brought both empire and devastation.
Controversies
- His conquest was marked by treachery, massacre and the destruction of the Inca state.
Little-Known Facts
- He was illiterate, having grown up poor before seeking his fortune in the Americas.
- He was assassinated in Lima by rival Spaniards in a feud among the conquistadors.
Myths & Misconceptions
How did Pizarro conquer the Inca with so few men?
He exploited a recent Inca civil war, used surprise, steel weapons, horses and guns, and captured the emperor Atahualpa in a single ambush, paralyzing the empire.
Connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Francisco Pizarro?
Francisco Pizarro (c. 1478–1541) was the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire, captured the emperor Atahualpa, and founded Lima.
How did Pizarro conquer the Inca Empire?
He arrived during an Inca civil war, ambushed and captured the emperor Atahualpa at Cajamarca, extracted a huge ransom, executed him, and then seized control of the empire.
Citations & Sources
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