FRANCISCO PIZARRO

Francisco Pizarro has quite a remarkable history as a Spanish soldier.  He was born in 1476 in the town of Trujillo in Estremadura.  His father, Gonzalo Pizarro, was a colonel of infantry.  Unfortunately, while his father was an educated man, Francisco himself was uneducated, not even being skilled enough to write his own name.  Francisco Pizarro did learn to read later in life but never very well.  However, he never mastered writing skills.  Because of this, a special imperial decree allowed him to sign his name with the use of a uniquely made stamp.

Not being acknowledged by his father, he ran away as a boy, joining adventurers heading to Hispaniola.  While there, Francisco ventured out on the expedition of Alonso de Ojeda in 1509 heading to Nueva Andalucia.  However, when re-enforcements and provisions were sought after, Ojeda left Pizarro to command the new colony of San Sebastian.  Ojeda promised Francisco that he would return for him in 50 days but not showing, Francisco was forced to kill horses for food

Abandoning the colony, Francisco joined the Martin Fernandez de Encisco expedition, returning with them to Darien.  Once there, he participated in the founding of the Santa Maria de la Antigua colony.  Then, he went on another expedition but this time with Vasco Nunez de Balboa, which led to the discovery of the Pacific Ocean, obviously a major discovery.  Then in 1515, Pedrarias-Davila sent Francisco on another expedition, this time over the isthmus so the Pearl Islands could be explored.  Interestingly, just two years later, Pedrarias-Davila ordered Francisco to arrest Balboa.

Next, Francisco accompanied the current governor on the expedition heading to Veragua.  With that, he served an honorable campaign against Urraca.  To award him for his hard and faithful work, he was given land and Indians near Panama, settling on his possessions that were cultivated with the help of his Indian Slaves.  The first news of a rich empire to the south was made with the expedition of Pascual de Andagoya.  Having been given the project, Francisco accepted it and succeeded.

Then, a partnership with Diego de Almagro and Fernando de Luque was formed whereby Pedrarias was lent money for an expedition going to Nicaragua.  In the early winter of 1524, Francisco left Panama along with 80 men, soon followed by Almagro with an additional 60 men.  As they continued moving south along the coastline, they met with great resistance when trying to penetrate the interior.  During battle, a number of men were lost.  Having been faced with hardship, Francisco and the remaining men returned to Panama, bringing with them news of Peru’s riches.

Although it took some persuasion, Pedrarias finally provided Francisco permission to plan another expedition but with word of the disastrous first attempt, trying to round up men was a challenge.  Although they needed many more adventurers, they were only able to come up with 160 men.  Determined to succeed, Francisco sailed in the early spring of 1526, entering the San Juan River where an Indian town was captured.  This particular town was rich with provisions, along with about $15,000 in gold, a substantial amount of money, especially at that time.  Almagro took much of the provisions and gold with him back to Panama while Francisco remained.  From there, he sent Bartolome Ruiz, his pilot, to search the southern coastline. 

Pedrarias’ successor, Pedro de los Rios, refused permission for further enlistment, choosing to send a vessel to round up the adventurers and bring them back home.  However, Francisco still had a small force that had settled on the island of El Gallo, all of them refusing to return.  Literally drawing a line in the sand with his sword, Francisco asked any man interested in staying behind with him to search for more riches to step across the line.  Unfortunately, just 13 men stepped over the line, each remaining with him under he was joined by another force under the direct of Bartolome Ruiz.

Francisco now began to explore the southern coast, making his way to Tumbez, Paita, and Sana.  There, he was able to obtain llamas, silver tankards, gold, and other treasures made in Peru.  When he heard of Huayna Capac’s death in 1527 and realizing his small force was not enough to subdue the empire, he finally relented and returned to Panama.  Even still, the new governor refused to allow him another expedition but the associates had decided to send Francisco to Spain.  In 1528, he departed, taking with him some of the Indians from Peru, as well as gold and silver plate, llamas, and other presents that would be presented to the royal court.

Once Francisco arrived in Seville, he was immediately arrested on the request of Encisco, stating he was in debt.  Francisco’s confinement did not last long as the emperor ordered him to be freed.  When he made his appearance in court, he was not only well received but in 1529, granted permission to conquer Peru by the Queen.  Now with the title of governor and captain-general, he was given a substantial salary.  Even so, he knew he needed a force of at least 250 men for the expedition.

Having met Hernan Cortes at court, Francisco was given aid.  Unfortunately, he had trouble raising the required force but set sail in January of 1530 regardless.  With him were just a few adventurers and four of his brothers, setting sail for Nombre de Dios.  Soon, he and Almagro got into an argument, causing Francisco to feel neglected.  After months and months of trying to gather the needed men, he ended up with just 180 and 27 horses.  In 1531, Francisco sailed for Tumbez, leaving Almagro behind to collect the remaining men.  By the time he reached Tumbez, 130 men joined him.

Over the years, Francisco was able to force the Peruvian army out, pay his men an exceptional fee for their services, proclaim Manco Yupanqui, found Los Reyes, today’s Lima, conquest Chile, and more.  While there have been many important adventurers in our history, Francisco Pizarro was probably one of the finest species.  Francisco went on to become the governor or Quito in 1539, only to die two years later.  A tall presence of a man, Francisco never married but he left his impression on the world.