Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that conquered the Incan Empire in 1533, met a violent end in Lima, Peru, on June 26, 1541. He was assassinated by a group of Spanish conspirators led by Diego de Almagro the Younger, the son of his former comrade in the conquest.
Background:
Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro had been partners in the conquest of Peru, but their relationship became strained after the division of the spoils. Almagro felt he had been cheated out of his rightful share of the wealth and sought to challenge Pizarro's authority.
Assassination:
On the morning of June 26, 1541, Almagro and his supporters, armed with swords and daggers, stormed Pizarro's palace in Lima. Pizarro, caught off guard, tried to defend himself but was overpowered and killed in the ensuing fight.
Aftermath:
The assassination of Francisco Pizarro led to a period of civil war and instability in Peru as various factions vied for power. Almagro and his followers eventually gained control of the region, but they faced resistance from those loyal to Pizarro. The conflict ended in 1548 with the execution of Diego de Almagro the Younger and the establishment of royal authority over Peru.
Francisco Pizarro's assassination marked the end of an era in Spanish conquest and colonization of the Americas. It highlighted the internal conflicts and rivalries that often plagued these endeavors and underscored the fragility and complexities of the colonial rule in the early 16th century.