Gonzalo Pizarro

The young brother of Francisco Pizarro, Gonzalo Pizarro , born in 1502 and deceased in 1548 was a Spanish Conquistador which conquered the empire INCA.

Gonzalo Pizarro accompanies, in 1532, his/her Francisco brother during his third forwarding for the conquest of the Peru. He are four brothers; in addition to Francisco, he is brother with Hernándo Pizarro and Juan Pizarro. He is one of lieutenants de Francisco and is also known to be one of the most corrupted, brutal and pitiless conquistadors of the new continent.

The emperor INCA, Atahualpa is captured in the battle of Cajamarca, it is then carried out the August 29th 1533 after which the Pizarro brothers continue their projection towards Cuzco, the INCA capital.

Between Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro, dissensions emerge concerning their attitude on the INCA continent which they have just conquered. Consequently, Almagro leaves Cuzco in 1534 and the king of Spain Charles V asks him to explore the southernmost area of the Peru (maintaining the Chile) to find treasures there. After its departure, Gonzalo and Juan are named, by Francisco, soldiers of the garrison of Cuzco without Diego de Almagro knowing it.

Gonzalo and Juan Pizarro take the command of Cuzco and takes care that their rules are complied with. During this time, Francisco explores the Western coast of Peru and founds, in 1535, the town of Lima. Gonzalo, Juan and Hernándo are not obstructed to reign as dictators, using corruption and brutality until torturing and carrying out those which refuse to yield with the Spanish rules . Because of all these rules, the INCA Manco INCA starts to carry out its rebellion; he fights for the equal rights and requires the suppression of the Spanish rules. He fights the Spaniards in a certain number of battle and captures Cuzco temporarily the May 6th 1536. But they will be beaten thereafter by a Spanish army stronger and directed by Gonzalo and Juan.

When Diego de Almagro returns from the Chile disappointed not to have found anything, it captures in 1537 Gonzalo Pizarro and Hernándo. Thereafter, they are able to escape and join Francisco Pizarro with Lima. When they learn that Almagro wants to take the command of Cuzco, they leave to fight against him in the Bataille of Mow Salinas in April 1538. During these events, Almagro leaves to Lima to negotiate with Francisco to agree on which would be commander de Cuzco. However, Gonzalo and Hernándo heard of the bad intentions of Almagro. They then carry out an army against him and condemn it for treason. Diego de Almagro is carried out the July 8th 1538 on the order of Hernándo.

Forwardings with Francisco de Orellana

In 1541, Gonzalo is declared governor of Quito. On the order of Francisco Pizarro, it must lead a forwarding to the east of Quito with Francisco de Orellana with an aim of discovering grooves. For that, Gonzalo can recruit up to 220 Spaniards and 4 000 natives of Quito. The under-commander, Orellana, are sent to Guayaquil with an aim of recruiting more troops and of obtaining more horses. Gonzalo Pizarro and its men leave Quito in February 1541, one month before Orellana returns with 23 additional men and several horses. It however meet in March in the valley of Zumaco and begin their walk through the the Andes. After having followed the rivers Coke and Napo, it start to miss provision. Approximately 140 Spanish on the 220 and 3 000 natives on the 4 000 had died. In February 1542, they make a decision. Orellana goes, with 50 men, to continue to sail towards the south of the Napo river in the search of food. Realizing that its forwarding is a failure, Gonzalo decides to take the road of north to join Quito with the 80 remaining men thus leaving success to Orellana which had ended up discovering and exploring the river the Amazon.

Last years

On its return to Quito, Gonzalo learns that the almagrists (partisans of Almagro) and Almagro, the son of Diego de Almagro assassinated Francisco Pizarro the June 26th 1541 to be avenged to have killed Diego de Almagro. The special correspondent of Charles Quint, Vaca of Castro arrives at the Peru to put an end to this argument. The offer of Gonzalo Pizarro for the capture of the persons in charge of died of its brother is refused. King Charles Quint names then Blasco Núñez Vela, first viceroy of Peru in 1544. Núñez proposes new laws helped of Bartolomé de Las Put; these laws protect the natives. Several of the conquistadors living in Peru are against these laws because that means that they will not be able to use the natives as slave any more. Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisco Carvajal then set up an army of partisans with the firm intention to remove these laws and put Núñez in defeat in 1546. However, the support for Gonzalo decreases when the new one representing of the king, Pedro of Gasca, arrives while proposing to repeal these new laws. The major part of the army of Gonzalo deserted right before the most important battle which would have determined the destiny of the conquest. Not having more any support of the army, Gonzalo goes and will be decapitated in 1548

Random links: