Page:A history of Chile.djvu/35

 Rh Chupas (Sept. 1542), led to the downfall of the son, Diego. Francisco Pizarro, too, came to his death because of this feud with the Almagrians; he was assassinated by young Diego Almagro's followers, June 26, 1541. In the contention between Almagro and Pizarro begins the Spanish history of Chile. Almagro, the Marshal, as he was usually termed by the early Spanish writers, was sent by Pizarro to Cuzco to take command of the ancient Inca capital, in the early part of the year 1535. He had so far smothered his animosity, as to consent to take this command under his ancient partner, in obedience to a royal mandate. Pizarro also empowered him, either personally or through his officers, to undertake the discovery and conquest of the countries lying to the south of the Atacama desert. Pizarro's seemingly friendly object was soon apparent. Almagro had been suspicious of his rival, and had taken the precaution to send emissaries to Spain when Hernando Pizarro had undertaken a mission to the mother country in the interests of his brother. Hernando's mission had resulted in the royal confirmation of his brother's grants. Knowing that Almagro had agents at court to represent his interests, Hernando had not dared to unfairly present the partner's claims, so that Almagro was empowered by King Charles, to discover and occupy all that country lying south of Pizarro's grant for a distance of about six hundred miles. The royal commissions were delayed, but Pizarro at Lima had an intimation of their contents. The boundary of Pizarro's territory on the south was not clearly defined, so that when tidings from his agent reached Almagro at Cuzco he