Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 16.djvu/108

* PIZARRO. 80 passed his boyliood earning his living as a swineherd. In" 1509 he sailed for Aineiica with Ojeda, whose fortunes he followed for several years. In 1519 he settled down on a small land holding in the new city of Panama. Three years later lie formed a partnership with Diego de Al- niagro (q.v.) and Father Luque to explore the country discovered by Andapoya to the south of the istlimus. A first expedition in 1524 accom- plished nothing, and a second in 1526, undertaken with the assistance of Caspar de Espinosa, threat- ened to ruin the partners. Enough of the country was seen, however, to prove that it contained niucli wealth, and so Pizarro landed on the island of (_!allo, not very far from the ecpiator, while Almagro returned for assistance. The suf- ferings of the men had been so great, however, tliat the Tiovcrnor at Panama sent a vessel to bring tlicm all back. Pizarro refused to embark, anil dri'W on the sand with his sword the famous dividing line, beyond which he declared lay labor, hunger, thirst, sickness, and every kind of danger, but also the chance for glory and heroic achieve- ment. Thirteen men crossed to stand by him, while the rest went back to Panama. Pizarro maintained himself for several months until the arrival of Almagro. and then they continued to explore the mainland as far as the Gulf of Guaya- quil. Convinced that his resources were insutli- cient to embark upon the conquest of this highly civilized region, Pizarro collected irrefutable evidences of its wealth, and then went back to Panama, whence he ])roeeeded to Spain in 1528. Charles V. granted him authority to conquer and govern this territory with the title of Ade- lantado. Pizarro enlisted a considerable force, including his four brothers. In lo.SO he was baik at Panama, and in January, 1.5.'U, he started for the real conquest of Peru. Land- ing at Tumliez. he learned of the weakened con- dition of the country, which the .struggles between Atahualpa and Huascar, sons of the Inca Iluayna Capac, had nuide an easy i)rey for a foreign con- queror. At Tumbez Pizarro was joined by Her- nando de Soto. From this place Pizarro marched to Cajamarca, which was reached Xoveniber 15, 15.32. There Atahualpa came to meet him as a result of. an exchange of friendly messages. Realizing his danger, surrounded as he was by many thousands fif native warriors. Pizai'ro ar- ranged that when Atahualpa had entered the great central inclosed courtyard of the village the Spaniards should suddenly attack the Peru- vians from all sides. Atahualpa was secured as a prisoner (NovendKT 10, 1532), to be held as hostage for the siffety of the force, scarcely a hundred strong. The native forces rapidly dis- integrated, and Atahualpa, despite the ransom which he collected, estimated at $17,500,000. was killed. A hundred and fifty fresh troops came from Panama with Almagro. and the country was rajiidly reduced to aubjection, except for scattered native bands which kept up the strug- gle for independence. Cuzeo was occupied in November, ISS.S, and in January. ITySH. Lima, the first of several towns founded by Pizarro. was formally organized. Aleanwhile Hernando Pi- zarro, the eldest of the lirothers. had gone to Spain with the royal fifth of Atahualpa's ran- som. He returned in 15.'?5 with various honors for the eonquistadores. the title of JIarquis for T'raneiaco. and a grant of the Chilean reeion for Almagro. The conqueror devoted himself to the PIZARRO. development of the country, and was apparently succeeding quite as well as an administrator as he had done as a soldier, when the outbreak of the natives under Manco Inca (q.v.) in 1530 forced him to take up arms again. In the defense of Cuzeo Juan Pizarro, perhaps the most brilliant fighter of the faniil,v, was killed. Almagro mean- while returned from Chile, and as .soon as the na- tives were driven oil' claimed Cuzeo as lying with- in his territory. By a sudden attack he captured Hernando and Gonzalo Pizarro, and occupied Cuzeo. -Vfter repeated negotiations and an inter- view which served oiil.v to add to the bitterness between the two former partners, the Marquis agreed to give up his claim to Cuzeo on condi- tion that his broilier Hernando — Gonzalo having escaped — should be released. As soon as Hernando had arrived safely at his brother's camp Fran- cisco declared war on Almagro. The latter, too old and intirm to mount a horse, directed his army from a litter. On the plain of Las Salinas, in April, 1538, the Pizarros completely defeated him. Almagro was caught and, his efforts to bril>e his guards becoming known, ordered to be strangled or garroted, the recognized method of execution. The JIarquis took up his head- quarters in Cuzeo and again began to develop the mining and other resources of the country. Hernando in 1540 returned to Spain to defend their actions, but the friends of Almagro had won the royal ear, and he was imprisoned, re- maining for twenty years in nominal confinement at the Castle of Medina del Campo. The Mar- quis returned to Lima in 1540, and busied him- self with administrative affairs. While at din- ner, on Sunda.v, June 26, 1541, he was surprised by a band of conspirators under Juan de la Rada, who had united to champion the cause of Al- magro's son and avenge the father's murder. Deserted by his guests. Pizarro defended himself until mortally wounded, made a cross with his blood on the lloor and died as he kissed it. Prescott's History of Peru is principally an ac- count of the career of Pizarro. and gives the standard version of the events of the conquest. It should I)e compared with Markham, Peru (C'hitago, 1892), which embodies the results of later documentary studies. PIZARRO, Goxz.LO (c.I505-48). A Spanish conquistador, brother of Francisco JPizarro. He was active in assisting his brother in the con- quest of Peru, and after his eseajie from Al- magro, who threatened to execute him (see preceding article), fought in Charcas, and in 1539 became Governor of Quito. He was sent in 1541 by the Marquis to investigate rumors of a land of cinnamon be.vond the Andes. After a remarkable journey over the mountains the cin- namon trees were found, with no possible means of getting their product to a market. As the ex- plorers were threatened with starvation, a boat was built in which Orellana (q.v.) started dawn the Napo River to seek food. Failing in this, Orellana deserted his chief, and became famous for making the first voyage dowti the Amazon. Pizarro eventually succeeded in getting back to Peru with a small remnant of his force. After the death of the Marquis Gonzalo remained in Peru to look after the interests of the family. When Blasco Nunez Vela came from Spain with the title of Viceroy to assume the government of Peru and enforce the "new laws," doing away