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Jul 8, 2016 · Spanish conquistador and eventual Governor of Peru Francisco Pizarro acquired wealth through kidnapping, ransom, and murder. Find out more about his violent rise to power in this video. Biography features in-depth profiles of the exceptional people whose lives and times stir our imagination.
- Overview
- Francisco Pizarro's ruthless quest for El Dorado
- Transcript
Francisco Pizarro's ruthless quest for El Dorado
Overview of Francisco Pizarro's life and death, including his conquest of the Inca empire.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Heritage Pictures/Dreamstime.com
•Francisco Pizarro's ruthless quest for El Dorado
•Exploring the ancient Maya city of Chichén Itzá
•The significance of gold in Inca civilization
NARRATOR: In 1532, the Spanish Army set sail for the Pacific coast of South America to explore its unfamiliar terrain. Conquistador Francisco Pizarro is the leader of the expedition. Once a simple Spanish pig farmer, he is now out to get his fill of adventure and riches in the New World. Among his crew are decommissioned soldiers, who like him have little to lose.
Pizarro is out to find El Dorado, the legendary city of gold rumored to contain unimaginable gold treasures from a lost empire. The ship drops anchor in Tumbes, a city in that lies in the north of modern-day Peru. The soldiers march for days without stumbling upon resistance or riches.
PROFESSOR JOSÉ ANTONIO DEL BUSTO: "When Francisco Pizarro set foot on land in Tumbes, he has no idea that anything of interest is there. He and his soldiers failed to spot the inordinate wealth buried there, artifacts of ancient cultures predating the Incas, like the Moche culture, who had inhabited the area 500 years before the Incas. The tomb of the Lord of Sipán is one of the great treasures the Spanish failed to notice. Naturally, the indigenous people kept it secret to protect it from being looted."
NARRATOR: When Pizarro finally does come face to face with the indigenous people, he mercilessly ambushes them. The Incas are unarmed and conquering them proves to be child's play. Conquistador Pizarro relies on barbaric methods to carry out his mission. He has but one goal in mind: to acquire the riches that are to be had here. The illegitimate son of a career soldier, the illiterate Pizarro demands ransom from the Incas and indeed amasses great riches. Envy, however, quickly leads to insurrection.
DEL BUSTO: "Pizarro was nonchalant when it came to his personal safety and well-being. Feeling invincible, he took no precautions and did not rely on the protection of the bodyguards at his disposal. His enemies were well aware of this and stormed the Lima palace and killed him."
NARRATOR: In the end, it was twelve of his own men who assassinated Francisco Pizarro.
- 2 min
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Apr 2, 2024 · Francisco Pizarro, Spanish conqueror of the Inca empire and founder of the city of Lima. Pizarro is best known for expeditions to South America, beginning in 1523, his conquest of the Inca Empire by defeating a 30,000-strong Inca force with fewer than 200 troops, and his capture of the emperor, Atahuallpa.
- What was Francisco Pizarro’s childhood like?Francisco Pizarro was the illegitimate son of Capt. Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisca González. He lived with his grandparents, and, according to legen...
- How did Francisco Pizarro become famous?In 1523 Francisco Pizarro embarked upon the adventure that was to lead to his lasting fame—the exploration of South America’s west coast. Over the...
- What is Francisco Pizarro best known for?In 1531 Francisco Pizarro’s expedition of 180 men and 37 horses sailed to the Inca empire in Peru. A Spanish priest met with the Inca emperor Atahu...
- How did Francisco Pizarro die?Francisco Pizarro once formed a pact with Diego de Almagro to share in the spoils of their expeditions. After Cuzco fell, Pizarro and Almagro becam...
NARRATOR: It's 1532 and Francisco Pizarro's band of conquistadors are crossing the Andes to conquer the Inca Empire. Inca scouts monitor the Spanish advance and send updates to their emperor, Atahualpa, using signaling mirrors.
- 3 min
Watch a short biography video of Francisco Pizarro, who helped discover the Pacific Ocean. #BiographySubscribe for more Biography: http://aetv.us/2AsWMPHDelv...
Francisco Pizarro, Marquess of the Atabillos (/ p ɪ ˈ z ɑːr oʊ /; Spanish: [fɾanˈθisko piˈθaro]; c. 16 March 1478 – 26 June 1541) was a Spanish conquistador, best known for his expeditions that led to the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.
