 Part
4 - Later Fortunes of the Conquerors
The death of Pizarro did not
prove in any sense a guarantee of peace among the Spaniards
in Peru. At the time of his death, indeed, an envoy from the
Spanish court was on his way to Peru, who from his integrity
and wisdom might indeed have given rise to a hope that a
happier day was about to dawn. He was endowed with powers to
assume the governorship in the event of Pizarro's death, as
well as instructions to bring about a more peaceful
settlement of affairs. He arrived to find himself indeed the
lawful governor, but had before him the task of enforcing
his authority. This brought him into collision with the son
of Almagro, at the head of a strong party of his father's
followers. A bloody battle took place on the plains of
Chupas, in which Vaca de Castro was victorious. Almagro was
arrested at Cuzco and executed.
The history of the Spanish
dominion now resolves itself into the history of warring
factions, the chief hero of which was Gonzalo Pizzaro, one
of the brothers of the great Pizarro. The Spaniards in Peru
felt themselves deeply injured by the publication of
regulations from Spain, by which a sudden check was put upon
their spoliation and oppression of the natives, which had
reached an extreme pitch of cruelty and destructiveness.
They called upon Gonzalo to lead them in vindication of what
they regarded as their privileges by right of conquest and
of their service to the Spanish crown. His hands were
strengthened by the rash and high-handed behavior of, Blasco
Nuņez Vela, yet another official sent out from Spain to
deal with this turbulent province. Pizarro himself was an
able and daring leader, and, at least in his earlier years,
of a chivalrous spirit which made him beloved of his
soldiers. He had great personal courage, and, as says one
who had often seen him, "when mounted on his favourite
charger, made no more account of a squadron of Indians than
of a swarm of flies." He was soon acclaimed as governor
by the Spaniards, and was actually supreme in Peru. But in
the following year, 1545, the Spanish government selected an
envoy that was to bring the now ascendant star of Pizarro to
eclipse. This was an ecclesiastic named Pedro de la Gasea, a
man of great resolution, penetration, and knowledge of
affairs. After varying fortunes, in which Pizarro for some
time held his own, he was routed by the troops of Gasea,
largely through the defection of a number of his own
soldiers, who marched over to the enemy. Pizarro surrendered
to an officer, and was carried before Gasea. Addressing him
with severity, Gasea abruptly inquired, "Why had he
thrown the country into such confusion; raising the banner
of revolt; usurping the government; and obstinately refusing
the offer of grace that had been repeatedly made to
him?" Gonzalo defended himself as having been elected
by the people. "It was my family," he said,
"who conquered the country, and as their representative
here, I felt I had a right to the government." To this
Gasea replied, in a still severer tone, "Your brother
did, indeed, conquer the land; and for this the emperor was
pleased to raise both him and you from the dust. He lived
and died a true and loyal subject; and it only makes your
ingratitude to your sovereign the more heinous." A
sentence of death followed, and thus passed the last of
Pizarro's name to rule in Peru.
Under the wise reforms
instituted by Gasea, Peru was somewhat relieved of the
disastrous effects of the Spanish occupation, and under the
mild yet determined policy inaugurated by him, the ancient
distractions of the country were permanently healed. With
peace, prosperity returned within the borders of Peru, and
this much-tried land settled down at last to a considerable
measure of tranquility and content.
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