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Pizarro was born an illegitimate child in Trujillo, Spain an area stricken by poverty. His father, Captain Gonzalo Pizarro, was a poor farmer. His mother, Francisca González, was of humble heritage. Pizarro grew up without learning how to read. He lived with his grandparents, and, according to history he was a swineherd, a person who tends pigs. -
Pizarro joined the expedition of Nunez de Balboa across the Isthmus of Panama to discover the Pacific Ocean. -
Joins Espinosa on his expedition into the present Republic of Costa Rica -
Pizarro receives funding to make his own expedition and explore the land south of Panama. Pizarro only reaches the coast of Colombia but finds a small quantity of gold -
Pizarro received the backing of Spanish investors to make further explorations into South America and search for treasure. He received two ships for the voyage. -
Pizarro explored the South of Columbia as far as Ecuador reaching Peru. -
King Charles of Spain agreed to Pizarro's request and promised him that he would be governor of any lands he conquered. He was given the title Governor and Captain General which carried absolute authority in all the territories he might discover. Pizarro and his crew, including three of his half-brothers—Gonzalo, Hernando and Juan Pizarro—sailed from Panama. -
On November 15, 1532, Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish explorer and conquistador, springs a trap on the Incan emperor, Atahualpa. With fewer than 200 men against several thousand, Pizarro lures Atahualpa to a feast in the emperor’s honor and then opens fire on the unarmed Incans. Pizarro’s men massacre the Incans and capture Atahualpa, forcing him to convert to Christianity. -
Atahuallpa offers a massive ransom for his release. The Inca Emperor offered his captives enough gold to fill the 22 foot room, as high as he could reach, in which he was held captive. The treasure ransom was collected. Pizarro and the Spanish took the treasure and then had killed Atahuallpa. -
Pizarro founded Lima, Peru which he called Ciudad de los Reyes meaning 'City of the Kings'. Francisco Pizarro destroyed the Incan capital of Cusco and it become Lima city. -
Pizarro did not want Almagro to have the city, but was too old to fight himself so he sent his brothers to Cuzco to fight. They defeated Almagro and killed him afterward. In retaliation, armed supporters of Almagro broke into Pizarro's palace in Lima and assassinated him on June 26, 1541.