Francisco Pizarro's Conquest of the Inca Empire
Francisco Pizarro and his companions suffered great privations on Gorgona without shelter from the rain.
Their diet mainly consisted of large snakes, with survival seen as a miracle by God.
Pizarro's forces dwindled as some returned to Panama, yet those remaining were emboldened.
A ship from Diego de Almagro brought supplies but no men, igniting a desire to explore south.
They faced challenging waters with fierce currents and whirlpools, observing turbid water alongside calm seas.
The crew experienced extreme hunger, relying on begging or theft for food.
The group reached Túmbez two years after leaving Gorgona, finding a land rich in population and architecture.
Pedro de Candía scouted Túmbez alone, impressing locals with his stature and attire.
A miracle occurred with lions and tigers, convincing the natives of Candía's divinity.
Candía was honored in a temple adorned with gold and shown lavish royal structures.
After Candía's report of wealth, the group agreed to return to Panama.
or stayed behind, likely succumbing to disease from the unhealthy coast.
Pizarro and his companions spent over years seeking discovery, leading to debt.
Pizarro reported to Emperor Charles V in Spain and received prestigious titles.
Disputes arose with Almagro over titles, but reconciliation was mediated by Licentiate Antonio de la Gama.
Almagro funded further expeditions with ducats worth of resources.
Pizarro and his brothers sailed toward Túmbez but faced adverse winds and landed leagues early.
They crossed rivers using rafts and Pizarro carried sick men on his back.
In Coaqui, they encountered plentiful food and emeralds but destroyed precious stones testing them.
A disease outbreak (Verruga) caused severe disfigurement and death among the Spaniards.
Pizarro sent gold ducats back to Panama to demonstrate the wealth and requested aid from Almagro.
Reinforcements arrived from Sebastián de Belalcázar and Juan Fernández.
After regrouping, Pizarro conquered Puna Island at a cost of lives and an injury to Hernando Pizarro.
Pizarro attempted goodwill by sending back captives with Spaniards, but it ended poorly.
He founded the first Spanish town in Peru, San Miguel, in and sent wealth to Panama.
On his march to Cajamarca, he received an ambassador from Huáscar Inca offering protection.
Atahuallpa sent gifts, treating the Spaniards as allies, not realizing their intentions.
Pizarro dispatched Hernando Pizarro and Hernando de Soto to visit Atahuallpa, who received them with great honor.
The poor interpretation by Felipillo led to tension between the Spaniards and Atahuallpa.
Atahuallpa expressed fear over prophecies regarding the Spaniards' impact on his empire.
Spanish forces prepared for battle at dawn, separating cavalry and infantry for strategy.
Atahuallpa arrived with many troops, followed by Fray Vicente Valverde, who demanded submission.
A disturbance led to violence, resulting in the capture of Atahuallpa and a significant loss of Indian lives.
Looting resulted in substantial amounts of gold and other wealth captured from the scene.
Atahuallpa negotiated a large ransom for his freedom, prompting missions to gather wealth.
He feared betrayal, leading to Huáscar's assassination after testing Pizarro's loyalty.
Disputes arose regarding the distribution of ransom, with ominous signs foreshadowing doom for Atahuallpa.
A trial followed with questions about legitimacy and accusations against the Inca.
Atahuallpa challenged Pizarro, resulting in a loss of respect for the Spanish leader.
He chose baptism over burning and died three months into imprisonment, requesting burial in Quito.
Ransom calculations indicated immense wealth captured from Atahuallpa, with distributions outlined for Pizarro and his men.
After the Inca brothers' demise, Indians were confused and divided, differentiating between good and cruel Spaniards.
Loyalty among captured Indians fostered deep connections with their individual captors, often placed on pedestals as gods.