Diego de Almagro
Diego de Almagro, born around 1475 in Almagro, Spain, was a Spanish conquistador known for his participation in the conquest of Peru alongside Francisco Pizarro and Hernando de Soto. Here are some key points about his life and contributions:
- Early Life: Little is known about Almagro's early life. He was possibly of humble origins, and there is some speculation about his illegitimacy and his father's identity, which might have been a knight from Almagro.
- Conquest of Peru: Almagro joined Pizarro in his third expedition to Peru in 1524. Their partnership was formalized through the Capitulación de Toledo in 1529, where they agreed to share the conquest of Peru. Almagro played a crucial role in several key events:
- The capture of the Inca emperor Atahualpa at the Battle of Cajamarca in 1532.
- The subsequent civil war among the Incas, where Almagro and Pizarro supported different factions.
- Disputes and Rivalry: After the conquest, disputes arose over the division of the territory. Almagro received the governorship of New Toledo, which was the southern part of the Inca Empire. This led to conflicts with Pizarro, who claimed the same territory for himself.
- Exploration of Chile: In an attempt to expand his domain, Almagro ventured south to explore what is now Chile. This expedition was marked by extreme hardship, including cold weather, hostile natives, and lack of gold or silver, leading to its failure. Almagro named the region "Chile" after the indigenous word "chilli," possibly referring to a local bird or the cold climate.
- Civil War: Upon returning from Chile, Almagro found his governorship of New Toledo disputed by Pizarro. This disagreement escalated into a civil war known as the Almagro-Pizarro War. Almagro initially captured Cuzco but was eventually defeated by Pizarro's forces led by Hernando Pizarro at the Battle of Las Salinas in 1538.
- Execution: After his defeat, Almagro was captured, tried for treason, and executed by strangulation in Cuzco on July 8, 1538. His death led to further unrest among his supporters, culminating in the assassination of Francisco Pizarro by Almagro's followers in 1541.
- Legacy: Almagro's legacy is complex. He was instrumental in the early Spanish exploration and conquest of South America, but his life was also marked by ambition, conflict, and ultimately, failure. His expeditions opened up new territories for Spain but also initiated a pattern of exploitation and conflict that would characterize Spanish colonial rule in the region.
For more detailed information:
See Also: