PISARRO FRANCISCO
OK. 1475–1541

Spanish conqueror of the Inca Empire. Captain General.

The illegitimate son of a Spanish military man, Francisco Pizarro entered the royal military service in his youth. Information about any education he received, as well as about the presence of combat experience before his arrival from Spain on American soil, has not been preserved. In the New World (America), he appeared in 1502, starting to serve in the military detachment of the governor of Hispaniola (Santo Domingo).
In 1513, Francisco Pizarro took part in Vasco de Balboa's military expedition to Panama, during which the Spaniards discovered the Pacific Ocean. From 1519 to 1523 he lived in Panama as a colonist, was elected magistrate and mayor of this city and managed to make a small fortune.
Interested in rumors about the Indian civilization still unknown to Europeans and its incalculable riches, the enterprising Pizarro begins to act. The Panamanian mayor, having taken as comrades the same adventurers as he, Diego de Almagro and the priest Hernando de Luca, and having recruited a detachment of Spaniards, organized two military expeditions (in 1524-1525 and 1526-1528) along the Pacific coast of modern Colombia and Ecuador .
However, both of them did not have the desired success. After the second such military expedition, the Governor of Panama refused to support Francisco Pizarro's costly ventures. When there was no money and food, the military detachment he had assembled also disintegrated - the governor ordered the Spaniards to return to Panama.
According to legend, Pizarro then drew a line on the sand with his sword and invited all members of the expedition who wished to continue to seek wealth and glory to cross this line and follow him into uncharted lands. Only twelve people remained under his command, including Diego de Almagro, who believed in their leader and his promises to make them rich.
With these twelve adventurers, Francisco Pizarro succeeded in discovering the Inca empire. It should be noted here that the Incas met white people unknown to them with great cordiality and hospitality. For royal Spain, this was a real landmark discovery. With this news, clearly supported by looted gold items, domestic animals unknown to Europeans - llamas and several treacherously captured Incas, the great adventurer returned victoriously to Panama.
However, there Francisco Pizarro, to his considerable surprise, did not receive support from the local governor. He flatly refused to finance and support the third military expedition to the south. It was dangerous to argue with the Panamanian governor - one could easily end up in the city jail. Then the persistent Pizarro sailed to Spain, where he achieved an audience with King Charles V. It was not without difficulty that he managed to convince the Spanish monarch to give him money to organize an aggressive campaign.
Having received the money, Francisco Pizarro returned to Panama in 1530 with the rank of captain general, having the family coat of arms and the right to governor over all the lands for more than six hundred miles south of Panama. But he still had to win these lands for the Spanish crown. However, this did not bother the conquistador-adventurer - Pizarro believed in his luck. He knew for certain where the borders of the Inca country began, rich in gold and cultivated fields, where the local population knew neither iron and steel, nor firearms and horses, the very sight of which at one time put to flight numerous detachments of the Mexican Aztec Indians.
In January 1531, Captain General Francisco Pizarro set out on his third expedition to conquer the Inca Empire. He sailed from Panama on three small sailing ships to the south, having under his command 180 infantrymen, 37 cavalrymen (according to other sources, there were 65 horses in the detachment) and two small guns. The detachment included four of his brothers, his faithful companions on the second expedition and the Catholic missionary priest Hernando de Luca. Arquebuses had only three soldiers. Twenty more were armed with long-range crossbows. The rest of the Spaniards were armed with swords and spears and dressed in steel helmets and cuirasses.
Headwinds forced the Spanish flotilla to take refuge in the bay, which received from them the name of St. Matthew. Francisco Pizarro did not wait for the weather to improve, and his detachment moved south along the Pacific coast towards the modern city of Tumbes. The Indian villages that came across on the way were plundered: the Spaniards found gold in each of them, which made their greed even more intensified.
However, Pizarro understood that he had very few forces, especially firearms. With the gold he stole at the beginning of the campaign, he decided to recruit more Spanish soldiers and buy more arquebuses and charges for them. Pizarro sent two expedition ships north, one to Panama and the other to Nicaragua.
Since the forces became much smaller, he and his detachment crossed on the third sailboat to the island of Puno south of Tumbes. So by June 1532, the first Spanish military base called San Miguel de Piura. After some time, the ship sent to Nicaragua returned, on which the long-awaited reinforcements numbering about a hundred people arrived.
Now Captain-General Pizarro could continue his aggressive expedition. Once again on the mainland, the Spaniards faced the fruits of their atrocities on Indian soil. Now hospitality was out of the question. Three soldiers sent for reconnaissance were captured by local residents and killed. Along the way, there were only deserted villages without food supplies. However, this did not bother the conquistador and his people - they went further and further.
Pizarro learned a lot about the country he wanted to conquer. The Incas called themselves "children of the Sun", their huge state stretched along the Pacific coast of South America from north to south - up to 4800 kilometers in length and more than 800 kilometers in width from west to east. The number of the Incas and the Indian tribes subject to them at the time of their discovery by Europeans is estimated by researchers at about 10 million people.
The capital of the Inca state was the well-fortified city of Cusco (on the territory of modern Peru), located high in the mountains - the Andes. The capital of the Incas was protected by a fortress in Saxo, which had an impressive defensive rampart 10 meters high.
The cultivated land was public property and was divided into three parts: the first - for the Sun (priests), the second - for the Inca (supreme ruler) and the third - for the common people. The main agricultural crops were maize and potatoes. Great importance had a breeding of llamas. These unpretentious and hardy domestic animals were widely used to transport various goods.
Administratively, the Inca empire was divided into large groups of families, headed by local leaders. The Incas were a confederation of tribes, the main of which were the modern Quechua and Aymara. A large number of Indian tribes paid tribute to the Incas. The Incas knew metal - copper, silver and gold, knew how to make alloys from them and forge metal weapons, which the Aztecs did not have.
Europeans were amazed by the well-arranged roads of the Inca country. Two of them stretched from north to south: one went along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, the second - along the hard-to-reach Andes. Troops moved along these roads and messengers ran with reports for the supreme Inca. Smoke signals were used for communication. It is known, for example, that in this way it was possible to transmit an order or report over a distance of 3,200 kilometers in just four hours. The buildings in their cities were erected by the Incas from large stones.
The Supreme Inca had a huge army, numbering up to 200 thousand people. For military successes, the Incas are called the "Romans of the New World." Warriors devoted a lot of time to their physical perfection, especially running on long distances. However, in armament, the Indian army could not be compared with the Spaniards. The country had big number high mountain stone fortresses.
By the time the Spaniards, led by Francisco Pizarro, appeared in the possessions of the Incas, a bloody internecine war had just ended there, which greatly weakened the country. At the beginning of the century, the supreme leader Huayna Capac divided the Inca empire into two parts between his two sons, Atahualpa and Huascar. The latter received a large territory and therefore had more warriors. But his brother Atahualpa decided to capture the capital of Cusco and become the supreme Inca.
He managed to outwit Huascar and draw military detachments of leaders loyal to him to Cuzco. Atahualpa himself arrived at the capital under the pretext of expressing obedience, accompanied by strong guards. The deception was discovered too late, and the ruler of Cuzco simply could not muster his army. A great and bloody battle took place under the walls of the capital, which lasted all day. Huascar's army was defeated, and he himself and his leaders were captured and killed. The new supreme Inca exterminated his entire family and began to persecute his supporters. At that moment, the conquistador Francisco Pizarro appeared on the scene.
When news reached Atahualpa of the appearance in his possessions of the Spaniards, who did evil and sowed death in the Indian villages, he began to gather an army of many thousands to march against them. Pizarro, having learned about the military preparations of the supreme Inca, was not afraid and himself moved into the hard-to-reach Andes along a mountain path. The Spaniards were led by Indian guides, and they confidently moved through the mountain gorges to Cuzco. The detachment, which the conquistador led, consisted of only 110 well-armed infantrymen and 67 cavalrymen and had light guns.
To Pizarro's surprise, the Indians did not defend the mountain paths and passes against him. On November 15, 1532, the Spaniards, having overcome the peaks of the Andes, freely entered the city of Caxamarca, abandoned by the locals, and fortified in it. In front of the city, Atahualpa's huge army was already in the camp. The supreme leader of the Inca was completely confident in his superiority over the few newcomers. To match their ruler, his warriors also believed in this, who had not yet seen or heard the arquebus and cannons.
Francisco Pizarro, following the example of Cortés and many other Spanish conquerors, acted with exceptional cunning and decisiveness. He invited Atahualpa to his negotiations, knowing full well that the Incas considered their supreme leader a demigod who could not even be touched with a finger. On November 16, Atahualpa, accompanied by several thousand lightly armed warriors, deprived of protective armor, solemnly arrived at the conquistador's camp. That day, they really weren't afraid of the Spaniards.
Pizarro calculated his actions to the smallest detail. He was not at all going to conduct any negotiations with the Indian emperor. The conquistador ordered the Spaniards to unexpectedly attack the bodyguards of the supreme Inca. The cavalry attack and firing from the arquebus led to the fact that the Spaniards quickly killed the guards of Atahualpa, and he himself was taken prisoner. Francisco Pizarro himself was the only one wounded among the Spaniards in that battle. The news of the capture of the demigod - the supreme Inca led the Indian army, which was standing near Caxamarca, into such horror that it fled and never again gathered in such a multitude.
The capture of the supreme Inca by the most perniciously affected the fate of his empire. Dissatisfied with the power of the Incas, the Indian tribes rebelled, and the adherents of the executed Huascar reasserted themselves. A huge country was in the arms of anarchy and anarchy. The Spaniards were only on hand.
Francisco Pizarro demanded a ransom from the supreme Inca for his release from captivity. He promised the conquistador and his soldiers to fill a room of 35 square meters with gold to the height of a raised hand, and fill a somewhat smaller room twice with silver. The Incas paid the full ransom for their leader. However, Pizarro, having received fabulous treasures, did not keep his word and ordered the execution of Atahualpa.
Then the Spaniards freely entered the capital of the Inca Empire, the city of Cuzco. The captain-general of the Spanish king acted like an experienced conqueror. He immediately put at the head of the conquered Indian state the puppet ruler Manco - brother Huascar. So the internecine war between the sons of the supreme Inca leader Huayna Capac led to the collapse of the great state. A little time will pass, and Manco, having fled to the mountains in 1535, will begin to raise the Incas for an armed war against the Spaniards.
In just a few years, a small army of the Spanish conquerors conquered a vast territory inhabited by the Incas and Indian tribes subject to them. Francisco Pizarro became the royal governor of vast possessions in South America - most of modern Peru and Ecuador, northern Chile and parts of Bolivia.
The historian Prescott wrote: “Pizarro betrayed the conquered peoples to his unbridled soldiers, who satisfied their lust in sacred monasteries; cities and villages were given to her for plunder; the conquerors divided the unfortunate natives among themselves as slaves and forced them to work in the mines, dispersed and senselessly destroyed the herds, devastated the granaries, destroyed the beautiful structures that increased the fertility of the soil; Paradise has been turned into a desert."
The huge Inca empire came for the time being in complete obedience to the captain-general of the king of Spain. In 1535, Francisco Pizarro, leaving his brother Juan in the Inca capital of Cuzco, set out with part of his army to the Pacific coast. There he decided to found the city of Lima - "the city of kings." At the same time, he set out to limit the vigorous activity of his longtime colleague Diego de Almagro, who was more and more out of Pizarro's subordination, as governor. And this threatened a mutiny in the army of the conqueror, already small in number.
The founding of the port city of Lima was a kind of triumph for the great Spanish conqueror. Now the governor of the former Inca empire had his own capital. Tens of thousands of Indians with slavish obedience erected palaces and Catholic churches, port facilities and fortifications according to European drawings. The city was built on a deserted ocean coast in the shortest possible time and became the stronghold of the Spanish kingdom on the Pacific coast of South America for several centuries.
However, the conquerors were expected by far from cloudless rule in the conquered Indian state. The puppet supreme Inca, who fled from Cuzco, acted successfully. Within a few months, he managed to gather an army of many thousands and in February 1536 laid siege to the capital. The siege of Cuzco lasted six months. The small Spanish garrison was exhausted by the fight against fires, which the Inca warriors carried out by throwing white-hot stones wrapped in tarred cotton.
Manco rode a Spanish horse, in steel knightly armor, and his warriors had several muskets. It is possible that all this was purchased from the Spanish soldiers greedy for jewelry for gold. The Indian army, not accustomed to conducting long sieges, began to gradually disperse to their homes. Manco, who never managed to take Cusco by attack or a long siege, was forced to retreat to the mountains with the remnants of his soldiers. He continued to raid the conquerors from there, but Francisco Pizarro, with the help of the Indians - the enemies of the Incas, managed to kill Manco. Having lost their last demigod leader, the Incas stopped organized resistance to the Spaniards.
Soon, open armed confrontation began in the very camp of the Spanish conquerors. Diego de Almagro openly accused Francisco Pizarro of cheating his soldiers in the division of the vast treasures of the Incas. Most likely, it was. Almagro's supporters rebelled.
In 1537, Pizarro, having received reinforcements from Spain, defeated Almagro's detachment in the battle near Las Salinas, and captured him himself. The victory was largely due to the fact that the royal soldiers were armed with new muskets that fired several bullets linked one to one. Diego de Almagro was executed in the name of the King of Spain.
In retaliation, supporters of the executed Diego de Almagro in June 1541 broke into the governor's palace of the great conquistador and dealt with the aged conqueror of the Inca empire. By the will of fate, Francisco Pizarro died not at the hands of Indian warriors, but at the hands of his own soldiers, whom he made rich. However, their greed knew no bounds.
Compared to other Spanish conquerors, Francisco Pizarro achieved best results during the conquest of the Indian peoples and civilizations of Latin America. With the smallest number of warriors, he managed to conquer vast and densely populated lands, which kept untold riches, especially gold and silver. Soon immigrants from Spain came here, and the Catholic Church began to baptize millions of pagan Indians with a cross and a sword.
Royal Spain was fabulously enriched by precious metals, which began to flow into the metropolis from the Inca empire that had gone down in history. The great conqueror himself almost did not have to use the treasures he had stolen and be satisfied with the honors due to him. However, Francisco Pizarro inscribed his name forever in world history, as well as in the history of several states of South America. The largest monument to the great conquistador was the Peruvian capital city of Lima.

V

1519 Pedrarias Avila founded the city of Panama by the South Sea - the first Spanish point on pacific ocean. Soon the Spaniards heard rumors about Peru - a wealthy state in the south. Pascual Andagoya, who served at Avila, by 1522 moved south from the Gulf of Panama along the Pacific coast of South America to the delta of the river. San Juan (4°N). He discovered about 400 km of initially mountainous, and to the south of a swampy strip with a very rare population, and probably visited the Gulf of Buenaventura. Andagoya collected and brought in 1522 to Panama more definite information about “ great empire Biru" (Peru), located further south, high in the Andes, not far from the coast. But Andagoya fell seriously ill during the trip and was unable to look for a promising country.

Francisco Pizarro, who dreamed of the glory and wealth of Cortes, took up this business. But in order to open and conquer Peru, funds were required, and F. Pizarro did not have them. Moving from Balboa to the service of Avila, he participated in raids on the Panamanian Indians, but the division of booty and land did not suit him, for his services he received from Avila a small estate near the city of Panama. In Panama, besides Pizarro, there lived another old conquistador without funds - Diego Almagro; both turned to wealthy people and organized a union of a sword and a money bag - a kind of "society on shares", which included an influential and wealthy minister of the church Hernan Luque, Almagro and Pizarro. The governor of Avila was brought in as a companion: without his "patronage" of the organizers of the expedition, the fate of Balboa could befall. But Avila agreed to participate only in the profits. Not having large funds, the company could only recruit 112 soldiers and equip two ships. In November 1524, Pizarro and Almagro reached, like Andagoya, only as far as 4°N. sh. They did not have enough food supplies and at the beginning of 1525 they had to return to Panama with nothing.

In November 1526, commanding 160 soldiers, they tried again on three ships and went to the mouth of the river. San Juan (at 4°N), where they split up. Pizarro remained on the island, Almagro returned to Panama for reinforcements and supplies. One of the ships under the command of pilot Bartolome Ruiz moved further south for another 700 km, discovered the river delta. Patia (Biru) and Tumaco Bay and crossed the equator. The sailors saw the giant snowy peak of Chimborazo (6272 m) and captured several Peruvians on an oncoming raft. On rafts with reed sails, the Peruvians made distant coastal voyages. On such a raft (“Kon-Tiki”, about 100 m²), the Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl with five comrades in 1947 made the transition of 8 thousand km from Callao (Peru) to the Raroia atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago, using fair currents and trade winds. The captives confirmed the stories of the vast size and wealth of the country lying to the south, and of the power of the Incas, The Incas are one of the tribes of the Quechua people, leading the union of several tribes, subjugating other Quechua tribes, conquering neighboring nations, by 1438 organized the largest of all Indian states with an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 2 million km². to whom she belonged. Ruiz delivered several samples of Peruvian goldwork to Pizarro. On the same ship, the Spaniards crossed to the south - to an island in Tumaco Bay. The shores here were unhealthy, swampy, with mangroves. For three or four weeks, Pizarro's people suffered from hunger and disease, most of them died.

Meanwhile, important events took place in Panama: Avila had died by that time (August 29, 1527). The new governor decided to put an end to the "crazy" attempts, begun against his will (that is, before his arrival) and, moreover, by a person of such "dark origin" as Pizarro. He sent a ship for Pizarro with orders to immediately return to Panama. And on the island there was a scene that some historians call theatrical and therefore consider it implausible. It, however, fully corresponds to the character of Pizarro, as described by the most reliable historical documents. The people of Pizarro began to consult, and many were glad to have the opportunity to return to Panama, to their estates. Then Pizarro, red with anger, stepped forward, drew a line in the sand with his sword, stepped over the line and said, turning to his timid comrades: “Castilians! This path [to the south] leads to Peru and wealth, that path [to the north] leads to Panama and poverty. Choose!” Only 13 people followed Pizarro, including Ruiz. The captain of the Panamanian ship took the rest on board and set sail, leaving the "rebels" without supplies, to the mercy of fate. And Pizarro and his comrades, afraid to remain on the coastal island, crossed on a balsa raft to the island lying 50 km from the coast. Gorgon (3°N, 78°W).

They spent more than half a year there, getting food for themselves by hunting birds and collecting shellfish. Pizarro's companions nevertheless obtained permission from the governor to equip one ship at their expense. On it, Pizarro went south along the coast and landed at the huge Guayaquil Bay, where he saw cultivated fields and the large city of Tumbes. He continued to sail south, to 9 ° S. sh. (mouth of the Santa river), discovered the Western Cordillera of the Peruvian Alps and more than 1200 km of the Pacific coast of South America. On the shore, he obtained live llamas, fine vigoni wool, gold and silver vessels, and captured several young Peruvians. With such trophies, Pizarro could return to Spain with honor. No one now would doubt the wealth of Peru, which he discovered and which he proposed to conquer. However, creditors were the first to “welcome” him: for non-payment of debts in the summer of 1528, he was imprisoned.

the stories of F. Pizarro, confirmed by convincing evidence, made a strong impression in Spain. Charles I ordered him released from prison, granted a patent for the conquest of Peru, appointed him governor of the country, but did not allocate funds; The deadline for equipping the expedition was short - six months. There were, however, "kind people", including Cortes, who financed the enterprise, which promised huge profits. Francisco Pizarro immediately began recruiting volunteers in his homeland of Extremadura. First of all, he attracted, of course, relatives, including three half-brothers - the eldest Hernando, junior Juana and Gonzalo Pizarro. Almagro did not receive a high appointment. He saw that F. Pizarro surrounded himself with relatives, who pushed him into the background. But he still relied on an agreement on the distribution of booty and even agreed to temporarily stay in the rear, hoping to arrive in Peru with a large detachment at a decisive moment: Pizarro had only 180 people, of which 36 were cavalrymen.

On December 27, 1530, the detachment of F. Pizarro left Panama on three ships. He landed at the equator and moved from there by dry route to the south. At the beginning of 1532, in the Gulf of Guayaquil, he tried to capture Fr. Pune, but the local Indians defended themselves so courageously that six months later the greatly depleted detachment moved to the southern coast of the bay, to Puerto Pizarro, near Tumbes. Here Pizarro stood for another three months, but this time he did not waste time: he received reinforcements from Panama and collected accurate information about internal state the Inca states. The country has just ended a three-year internecine war and the supreme Inca Huascar was defeated and captured by his brother Atahualpa. In September 1532, Atahualpa, with a detachment of five thousand Indians, was in the mountainous city of Cajamarca, which lies at 7 ° S. sh., on one of the upper tributaries of the river. Maranion.

The Pizarro brothers, among whom the "husband of the council" was the old man Hernando, considered the moment favorable for a campaign inland. On September 24, 1532, they set out with most of their people from the Gulf of Guayaquil to the south along the coastal lowland, crossed the Western Cordillera and climbed to the highlands. Their campaign was facilitated by the fact that the Incas laid good roads with suspension bridges through mountain rivers. The detachment of F. Pizarro consisted of 62 cavalrymen and 106 infantrymen, of which only 23 had firearms. Atahualpa did not obstruct the Spaniards. On November 15 they entered Cajamarca and camped there; Atahualpa's five thousandth detachment was two miles from the city. Hernando Pizarro, accompanied by an interpreter, went to Atahualpa, and he, seeing how the strangers trusted him, agreed to a meeting.

According to the traditional version, on the night after inspecting the Atahualpa camp, the Pizarro brothers, along with the officers Hernando Soto and Sevastian Moyano de Belalcazar(or Benalcazar) and a monk Vicente Valverde They made up a daring plan, which they carried out with impudence unparalleled even for that time. Three groups of Spaniards were hidden in ambush - apparently, both sides agreed that they would meet away from their troops. Atahualpa arrived at the square in a golden palanquin, which was carried on the shoulders of noble people. 300 unarmed Indians went ahead, removing stones and rubbish from the road; the chief Inca was followed on a stretcher and in hammocks by chiefs and elders. When the procession stopped, Valverde approached Atahualpa and read out a recerimiento (notice) - a document about the Inca's voluntary recognition of the power of the Spanish king. Atahualpa asked how he could be sure that everything he was told was true. Valverde referred to the gospel, which he handed to him. Inca turned it over, leafed through it, said that this book does not speak, and threw it away. Then Valverde shouted to the Spaniards: "At them, at them!" Francisco Pizarro ordered a volley to be fired, the riders from the ambush rushed to Atahualpa from three sides, and at the same time the foot soldiers appeared. Pizarro himself rushed to the stretcher, grabbed the Inca by the very long hair, pulled him out of the stretcher, threw him to the ground and tied him up. The Indians of the retinue of Atahualpa, who were attacked from three sides by riders, fled in panic, knocking each other down. Seeing the flight, a detachment of many thousands of Indians, who were in the distance, went north, to the equator, without a fight.

The Spaniards with the captured Inca returned to Cajamarca. On January 5, 1533, Hernando Pizarro, with 20 horsemen and a few foot soldiers, went south to the Pacific coast in search of Atahualpa's treasures. The detachment proceeded along the middle course of a small river. Santa to the headwaters along the western slopes of the Cordillera Blanca and reached the ocean coast at 10 ° 30 "S. E. Pizarro first examined about 200 km of the coastline further south to 12 ° 30" S. sh. He did not find treasures, but chose a convenient place for laying the city (Lima - see below). Hernando then crossed the Western Cordillera near 11°S. sh. and walked along the river valley. Mantaro (a tributary of one of the components of the Ucayali River, the Amazon basin) in the city of Hauha (near 12 ° S). The detachment returned to Cajamarca on April 25. Passing through a rich country with a dense friendly population, E. Pizarro crossed several rivers, including one large one near its source, not suspecting that this was the great Marañon - the Amazon. For about 250 km, he moved along mountain roads laid along the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Blanca near the huge gorge of the river. Maranion. In the absence of Hernando, Almagro arrived in Cajamarca with reinforcements recruited from the "dregs" of the Panamanian people.

Atahualpa, imprisoned, realized that the conquistadors valued gold more than anything else in the world. On its wall, he drew a line as high as he could reach with his hand, and offered an unheard-of ransom - to fill the dungeon with gold to the line. Pizarro accepted the offer, and Atahualpa sent messengers in all directions to collect gold vessels and other temple decorations. By July 1533, heaps of gold had been collected, but not all of the ransom had been delivered. Pizarro lost his patience, especially since the resources of the Inca seemed to have already been exhausted. He accused the Inca of conspiring against the Spaniards, of killing Huascar, of idolatry, polygamy, etc. Atahualpa was sentenced to be burned. But since he agreed to be baptized, on July 26 he was “only” strangled. F. Pizarro elevated to the throne of Peru Manco Capaca, the son of Huascar, and on August 11 he went with him to the southeast, to the capital of the Incas, Cuzco.

The detachment repeated the route of E. Pizarro. but in the opposite direction, to the city of Jauhi, which had to be taken by force; the Spaniards spent two weeks there (12–27 October 1533). On the way to Cusco, the soldiers of F. Pizarro withstood four battles and opened a rapid river. Apurimac, the left component of the Ucayali (Amazon basin), flowing in a deep narrow gorge. F. Pizarro entered Cusco on November 15, and on March 23, 1534 he officially proclaimed the capital of the Incas a Spanish city and soon returned to Jauja. He sent the royal “fifth” to Spain - a large cargo of gold, new crowds of profit seekers rushed to South America; sailing between Panama and Peru became more frequent. At the end of August, F. Pizarro headed from Jauja to the ocean in order to finally choose a place for laying the city, and on January 5, 1535, he founded the "City of Kings", later called Lima, where he transferred the center of the country. Probably, his lieutenants, partially repeating the work of E. Pizarro, explored the coast 450 km north of Lima: in July 1535, F. Pizarro founded another city - Trujillo (at 80 ° S. latitude).

Before speaking from Cajamarca to Cuzco (August 11, 1533), F. Pizarro sent his captain Sevastian Moyano, who went down in the history of discoveries as Belalcazar, to accompany part of the treasures collected in the country for shipment to Spain. He delivered them to San Miguel (now Paita, at 5 ° S. Lat.) - the only functioning port at that time. Here Belalcazar learned that in the north, in the valleys of the Equatorial Andes, there is another capital of the empire - Quito, which the Incas intended to make the second Cuzco. The conquistador decided that there could be great treasures in Quito at the head of a detachment of 200 people, including 62 horsemen, and moved there in early March 1534. In the campaign, now climbing the passes, then descending into the gorges and several times crossing the Pacific-Atlantic divide, the Spaniards prevailed in numerous small skirmishes. And in late April - early May, they emerged victorious in two battles with 15 and 50 thousand Indian armies, who lost up to 4 thousand people; the conquistadors were missing four soldiers. The distance from San Miguel to Quito, which is 600 km in a straight line, Belalcazar overcame in four months. Around June 22, he managed to capture Quito, and in July he advanced 100 km to the north. In the middle of 1535, the conquistador followed his two lieutenants even further - beyond the borders of the Inca empire to conquer the tribes of South Colombia, and, thus, the northern border of the Spanish possessions reached approximately 3 ° N. sh. As a result of Belalcazar's campaigns, the Spaniards got acquainted with the Equatorial Andes for almost 1200 km.

February 1535 a bishop was sent from Panama to Peru Thomas Berlanga who planted the first bananas in America. The venerable "archpastor" had three tasks: the spiritual leadership of the Peruvian Catholics, the arbitration of disputes between the bishop of Peru and the conqueror of the country, and secret surveillance of Pizarro. On the eighth day Berlanga's ship fell into a calm, was picked up by the Equatorial current and deviated far to the west. On March 10, land suddenly opened up in front of him - one of the islands (probably Isabella) of the archipelago, later called the Galapagos. In Spanish - galapagos means "turtles"; Berlanga himself did not name the islands. The Spaniards expected to replenish supplies drinking water and collect grass for the horses. But on the island, they found nothing "except seals, sea turtles, and also giant [elephant] turtles that could carry a man on their back, and many iguanas [lizards] that look like devils." Here and below, cit. from a letter from T. Berlanga to Emperor Charles V. Elephant turtles weigh up to 100 kg; shell length reaches 1.5 m, height - up to 0.5 m; Berlanga lizards are a marine iguana up to 1.4 m long and a terrestrial iguana, or conolophos, up to 1.0 m.

On March 11, Berlanga spotted another, larger island, and a thirsty crew set about looking for a source on it, "but for two days they could not find a drop of water." Then the sailors paid attention to “tatar leaves, similar to prickly pears, quite juicy, but not very tasty; we began to eat them and squeeze the juice ... ". March 15, climbing one of the small peaks, Berlanga discovered two more islands - "one is much larger than all the others, 15 or 20 leagues in circumference ...". The Bishop completed latitude determinations, finding that the islands were located "between 0°30"S and 1°30"S. sh., and was not far from the truth. He noted many very gullible birds - the Spaniards caught them simply with their hands, and "... the land here is like slag, worthless."

At first, Berlanga mistakenly believed that the archipelago he discovered was located 120–150 km from the coast of Peru, and ordered a small supply of juice to be made. But with an average wind, the Spaniards moved east for 11 days, and the land did not appear. The bishop ordered that the remaining water be divided into two parts - one for animals and the other for people and poured into a barrel of wine. Another eight days passed. “And when... the barrel dried up and there was nowhere to wait for help, we saw the land, but... fell into a two-day calm...” The ship reached the coast of South America on April 9, 1535, just south of the equator. Lost in the ocean, almost 1000 km from the mainland, the uninhabited archipelago (about 7800 km²) was of no interest to the Spaniards. In addition, he was away from the sea routes; only occasionally a storm brought ships there. But pirates of various nationalities have well explored the path to the Galapagos. But when ships of war were sent from Panama or Peru to fight them, their captains often searched in vain for the archipelago. Therefore, for a long time it was called Islas Encantadas ("Enchanted Islands").

From Spain came the decision to delimit the new possessions. For F. Pizarro, who received the title of Marquis, the already conquered territory of Peru was assigned. Diego Almagro was appointed governor of the southern country of Chile, which still had to be conquered. July 3, 1535, i.e. in winter southern hemisphere, at the head of a detachment consisting of 500-570 Spaniards and 15 thousand Indians, he set out from Cuzco to the southeast, along the western shore of Lake Titicaca, the largest in South America (6.9 thousand km²). Then he left Lake Poopo to the east, proceeded to 21 ° 30 "S, and from there moved south through the Central Andean Puna to the border of the Inca state. Having traveled more than 1000 km, he provided his people with a two-month rest. In the border region, the Spaniards intercepted the cargo of gold that the conquered southern tribes sent to the Incas, the division of the booty, of course, only fueled their thirst for gold.

The scouts told Almagro that there were two routes to Chile, equally difficult: the first along the border west through the mountains to the Pacific coast, and then south through the waterless Atacama Desert, the second straight south through the highlands, where it is difficult to get meat and maize . Almagro chose the second way, as the shorter one. Through the desert plateau he fought his way into the Chicoana Valley, in the upper reaches of the Rio Salado, the right tributary of the Parana, where he managed to get llamas and some provisions. But when crossing a swift mountain stream, most of the animals and supplies died. It was a heavy blow for the expedition: further on, only occasionally small and poor villages were encountered. The conquistadors ravaged the dwellings, took away all the adult men who replaced them with beasts of burden. But the animals are fed, and the Indians were hardly fed, and they died by the hundreds.

From the headwaters of the Rio Salado, Almagro moved first south, along the eastern slope of the Andes, but soon turned west, to the main ridge of the Argentine-Chilean Andes. The Spaniards walked along its foot, through the salt marshes, looking for passages through a giant mountain barrier. Sixty-year-old Almagro led the way with a small cavalry detachment. At 27°S sh., at an altitude of almost 5 thousand meters, a pass was finally found (San Francisco, 4726 m). Snow blinded my eyes, rarefied air, storms and cold made every step difficult. It was especially difficult at night: due to the lack of fuel, it was impossible to build a fire, there was nothing to protect against harsh winds. People began to freeze; a severe famine began - the Spaniards greedily divided the fallen horses among themselves, and the Indians ate the corpses of their dead comrades. For the entire time of the campaign, about 10 thousand Indian porters died from exhaustion, cold and overwork, including only at pass 1500; the Spaniards lost 150 men and many horses. Finally, in late March - early April 1536, the river valley opened. Copiapo (at 27° S), where a heavily depleted detachment stopped to rest. At the insistence of the high priest and the brother of the supreme Inca, who accompanied Almagro, the local Indians collected and handed over to the Spaniards about 1 ton of gold in a few days.

The conquistadors then followed the coast further south to Coquimbo (at 30° S). Here Almagro unexpectedly met a Spaniard deserter who fled from Peru from the punishment that threatened him: alone, he safely walked south for more than 2 thousand km. He proved to be very useful to the expedition, providing it with porters and food. From Coquimbo, to get acquainted with the southern regions, Almagro sent Gomez Alvarado. He penetrated 750 km to the south - to the river. Itata, scouting Chile "almost to the end of the world." Here, at 36 ° 40 "S, the lands of the warlike Araucan tribe began. On his return, Alvarado reported that the country was deserted and dull. Later, these areas, extremely fertile, with a wonderful climate, were called South American California. Such a discrepancy in characteristics is easily explained: the Spaniards were disappointed by the lack of treasures and got there during the rainy season.

In September 1536 Almagro moved back. For the retreat, he chose the coastal route through the Atacama Desert. All his people were divided into small groups of 10-12 people, each following its own path. Although they suffered greatly from thirst, they still managed to get a minimum of water in rare wells, so the losses were minimal - only a few dozen horses. Almagro with his detachment was in the rearguard. After crossing the desert, he rose from Arequipa (16 ° 30 "S) to the highlands and approached Cuzco in mid-April 1537, having traveled more than 5 thousand km in both directions.

ended the greatest geographic results and the most difficult campaign that the conquistadors made in South America. They discovered the vast high-mountain plateaus of the Central Andes with large lakes Titicaca and Poopo, the highest mountain ranges of the Argentine-Chilean Andes, the western fertile valleys of short rivers flowing into the Pacific Ocean, about 2.5 thousand km of the coastline of South America - from 17 ° to Zb ° 40 "S. But the Spaniards did not find any precious metals, or a dense population, or cities. From their point of view, the campaign was unsuccessful, except for 1 ton of gold received from the Indians. Chile in this respect could not even be compared with Peru Almagro was severely disappointed and even more embittered against F. Pizarro, who proposed such an unequal division.

Almagro returned to Peru when part of the country was engulfed in an uprising raised by Manco Capac. The Indians besieged Cuzco for half a year, where they shut themselves up with a handful of people, Hernando and Gonzalo Pizarro; the third brother, Juan, was killed during the sortie. Almagro defeated the rebels, captured Cuzco on April 18 and freed the detachment, but took the Pizarro brothers into custody. Gonzalo fled, and Hernando was released after Francisco swore to cede Cuzco to Almagro. The brothers immediately took up arms, utterly defeated Almagro, and on July 8, 1538, they executed him. The surviving supporters of Almagro spent three years in poverty. They plotted, in June 1541 they broke into Pizarro's house in Lima, killed him and several of his supporters. Diego Almagro Jr., the son of the executed, was proclaimed governor. He did not rule for long: the governor appointed by Charles I, with the help of Belalcazar and other Pisarrovites, captured Almagro Jr. and put him on trial, which sentenced him to death (September 1542).

G

Onsalo Pizarro by February 1541 was in Quito a detachment of 320 Spaniards and 4,000 porter Indians. In search of a new "golden country" in December 1541, he crossed the Eastern Cordillera and opened the full-flowing river. The Napo is one of the tributaries of the upper Amazon. Descending the Napo, the Spaniards found trees whose bark resembled the precious Sri Lankan cinnamon. Entire forests of an imaginary cinnamon tree opened up before them. In order to explore this "country of cinnamon" and, perhaps, to find even greater wealth, G. Pizarro continued down the river and entered the Amazonian lowland for the first time. But he did not have enough ships to sail the entire detachment, and it was not possible to move by land along the banks of Napo: they were swampy, covered with impenetrable forest and almost deserted. The Spaniards were starving, suffering from yellow fever, dying by the dozens, the Indians by the hundreds.

Then, at the end of December 1541, G. Pizarro sent for reconnaissance for provisions down the Napo, Francisco Orellana, with 57 soldiers on a brigantine built on Napo. Orellana did not return. According to the version coming from Gonzalo's people, Orellana wanted "at the price of treason to appropriate fame and, perhaps, the benefit of the discovery."

Without waiting for Orellana, Gonzalo went down the Napo to the river. Maranion, the main source of the Amazon. There he found a Spaniard from the reconnaissance detachment, who informed him of Orellana's betrayal. And Gonzalo, without provisions, with a greatly depleted detachment, set off on his way back, through swampy forests and high mountains. The Spaniards ate all the horses and dogs captured from Quito, fed on carrion and roots. In June 1542, only 80 emaciated, feverish people returned to Quito. There Gonzalo learned about the death of F. Pizarro And the temporary triumph of Almagro Jr., and soon - about his execution. The new ruler of Peru provided G. Pizarro with rich silver mines. However, he dreamed of more. In 1544 he revolted and seized power in the country, but was then defeated and executed (1548). Thus ended the grandiose epic of discovery and conquest of the high-mountainous western countries and the Pacific strip of South America, connected with the names of Pizarro and Almagro, from the equator almost to 37 ° S. sh. - space of about 3 million km².

Pedro Valdivia, a companion of Almagro Sr., then went over to the side of F. Pizarro and was sent in January 1540 to conquer Chile at the head of a detachment of 150 soldiers and 1000 porter Indians. With battles, he advanced along the Coastal Cordillera to 33 ° S. sh. Leaving the zone of tropical deserts, the Spaniards suddenly found themselves in a fertile area. On the shore of the bay, they founded a city, calling it Valparaiso ("Paradise Valley"). Just south of Valdivia discovered a magnificent river valley. Maipo and on its middle reaches on February 12, 1541 founded the city of Santiago. Soon a large detachment of Indians attacked the city and burned it, almost all food supplies perished in the fire. It seemed that the Spaniards were in a hopeless situation. In this situation, Valdivia acted decisively: he divided the soldiers into two groups, and for three years one built with weapons, grew bread and raised pigs, the other defended and went on the counterattack.

P. Valdivia sought to master the sea route from Chile to Spain through the Strait of Magellan, the western exit from which he mistakenly believed at 42 ° S. sh. To explore the coast of southern Chile in early September 1544, he instructed the Genoese Juan Bautista Pastena explore the coast to the south for 900-1200 km. On two vessels, Pastene reached 42°S. sh. and indeed found a strait (Chakao) there, but, exploring it and neighboring bays, he discovered that they separated a large island from the mainland. Chiloe (8.4 thousand km²). Pastene thus laid the foundation for the discovery of the Chilean archipelago. Upon his return, he highly appreciated the inspected part of the coast, but then the Spaniards did not yet know that the Araucans were blocking the path to these areas. In 1545, Valdivia walked along the coast to the river. Bio-Bio (at 37 ° S), but was recalled to Peru to suppress the rebellion of G. Pizarro. In 1547, he returned to Chile and began a war against the freedom-loving Araucans, who offered the Spaniards such resistance as they had not met anywhere else in America. In order to gain a foothold in this area, on October 5, 1550, at the mouth of the Bio-Bio, he laid the city of Concepción. The Indians attacked the invaders in large forces, but were defeated, 400 people were taken prisoner. Every Indian Valdivia ordered to cut off right hand and rip out the nostrils. Then all the Araucanians revolted. In the fight against them, the conquistador founded a number of new cities, including advancing to 40 ° S. sh., Valdivia (February 1552).

To get acquainted with the eastern slope of the Andes at the beginning of 1553, Valdivia sent 80 people, led by the captain Francisco Villagroy. The detachment crossed the mountains at about 37 ° S. sh. with less difficulty than expected, and came to a large river (Rio Colorado?), flowing rapidly to the east. For several days the Spaniards moved along the coast and could not find the ford. Finally, he was found, but ... guarded by a group of Indians. At the cost of the lives of two Spaniards, the detachment crossed to the other side; food shortages forced them to return.

P. Valdivia, meanwhile, continued to fight the Araucans. Winning "victories" over them, he involuntarily taught them martial arts, and they turned out to be very capable students. Araucan Lautaro under the guise of a defector, he spent a year in his detachment, and then, returning to his fellow tribesmen, became their military leader. In 1553, the Araucans in turn defeated several Spanish detachments, in December they captured P. Valdivia himself and executed him. For more than 100 years, the war against the colonialists continued and ended with the triumph of the Araucans: in 1665, peace was concluded with them. In the XVIII century. the Spaniards again tried to subdue them, but the Araucanians defended themselves so stubbornly that in 1773 Spain formally recognized the independence of Araucania. In the 19th century Araucans (until the 80s) also rebelled against the Republic of Chile, which annexed their country to their possessions.

The discovery of Southern Chile was continued to the Strait of Magellan in 1558 by Juan Ladrillero, who, on the orders of the ruler of Peru, made the first inventory of the “western coast of Patagonia”. At the same time, he discovered the Chonos archipelago and the Taitao Peninsula and for the first time passed the Strait of Magellan from west to east.

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Lake Titicaca is located in the Central Andes at an altitude of 3810 meters above sea level. This is the largest lake in South America. Its area is 8300 square kilometers, and it ranks 18th in size among the largest lakes in the world. The depth of the waters is more than a hundred meters, and in some places reaches 300 meters. It was here, on the banks of a huge and deep reservoir, that in the days of fabulous antiquity there was one of the centers of highly developed civilizations of mankind.

Around it, habitable lands were bounded to the east by the impenetrable jungles of the Amazon Basin, and to the west by the boundless waters of the Pacific Ocean. Ancient people densely populated the narrow western strip of the continent, which began at the borders of modern Ecuador and ended in the central regions of Chile.

In the first millennium BC, civilizations such as Chavin, San Augustin and Paracas existed here. The latter has chosen for itself the coastal region of the Andes (the southern coast of modern Peru) and the Paracas Peninsula (sandy rain).

The main attraction of this people, which has come down to our times, are the necropolises. They consist of spacious burial chambers; they contain many mummies. The deceased, wrapped in several layers of fabric, decorated with rich ornaments, are in a sitting position. The knees rest on the chins, the arms are crossed on the chest.

What is of particular interest is that some of the mummies have deformed, egg-shaped skulls and show signs of trepanation. It's hard to believe, but the facts are a stubborn thing: once, more than two thousand years ago, the ancient Aesculapius successfully performed operations on the brain. This is confirmed by the partial replacement of the bones of the cranium with gold plates.

The Paracas civilization sank into obscurity in the second century BC. Its traces have been lost in the endless stream of time, but there are a number of testimonies that cast a faint light on the fate of this mysterious people. These testimonies indicate that the descendants of those ancient Aesculapius did not disappear from the earth, but continue to live, skillfully applying invaluable medical knowledge in practice.

But before considering this interesting question, it is necessary to get acquainted with the historical events that took place in the period from the 13th to the 16th centuries in the western lands of South America.

History of the Inca Empire

Nine hundred years ago, the Sun God Inti, who oversaw the above-mentioned territory, took care of the poor living conditions of people. To cheer up mere mortals, instill confidence in them and make them feel the joy of life, he sent his son to them Manco Capacu and beloved daughter Mama Oaklew.

The master's instructions were short and to the point. He gave the children a staff of pure gold and ordered them to settle on those lands where this expensive product would enter the soil.

Divine offspring exactly fulfilled the will of their father. They roamed the mountainous terrain for a long time, testing it for strength. The stony earth did not want to accept the precious metal, and the children were already beginning to despair. But here they were in the Cuzco Valley, near the village of Pacara-Tambo, at the foot of the Wanakauri hill. And here a miracle happened: the staff easily entered the hard, like granite, soil. The son and daughter looked at each other happily and founded a settlement on this place, which they named Cusco.

People who lived in the area the Incas praised Manco Capac and Mama Oclew, recognized them as his rulers and began to call his country Tahuantinsuyu(land of four parts).

Years passed. Cusco gradually turned into a large and beautiful city. It was located at an altitude of 3416 meters above sea level and was surrounded by two mountain ranges.

In parallel with the construction of their capital, the people, who received the support of the gods, waged aggressive wars. At first, he fought for a long time with the Sora and Rukan tribes, who lived in the western lands adjacent to the Cuzco valley. Having conquered these tribes, the conquerors significantly expanded their borders and began to prepare for further military expansions.

A very strong and brave people of Chunk turned out to be a serious opponent. The war with him was long, difficult and cruel. Only by the middle of the 15th century did the Incas succeed in defeating their main enemy. At this time, their ruler was Pachacutec, the son of the legendary Manco Capacu.

At the beginning of the second half of the 15th century, the descendants of the divine offspring subjugate all the tribes living in the basin of Lake Titicaca. These conquests are not limited. Military expansion continues, and by the end of the 15th century, the conquered territory expands to enormous proportions. This is already an empire, whose possessions stretch from the southern border of modern Colombia to the central regions of Chile and Argentina.

State structure of the empire

A large state needs competent administrative management. The conquerors divided all the conquered lands into four provinces: Kuntisuyu, Kolyasuyu, Antisuyu and Chinchasuyu. In the center of Cusco was Huakapata Square. From it, in different directions, four roads leading to these administrative formations of the empire diverged.

The Incas loved and knew how to build roads. They made them wide with an even coating. The longest stretched for 5250 kilometers and had a width of 7.5 meters. True, the Indians did not know the wheel, so they moved along such highways on foot; the cargo was carried on oneself or transported on llamas.

The great conquerors did not speak any written language, but despite this, the state post office worked perfectly. Numerous messengers constantly hurried to different parts of the empire and transmitted decrees and resolutions through "knot letters" or orally.

The Incas were well developed: agriculture, animal husbandry, handicrafts. There was no single monetary standard. The process of buying and selling took place between the seller and the buyer at numerous fairs through the exchange of goods. Such fairs, as a rule, were held in cities at least once every ten days.

The conspicuous division of society into rich and poor did not exist. Everyone's standard of living was about the same. The main part of the population lived in tribal communities - ailyu. A separate family had a land allotment - topu. Each member of society carried a labor service - a mit. Important issues of social life were decided at general meetings - kamachiko.

When a man reached the age of 18, he was taken to the military or courier service. Her term lasted 7 years. Every inhabitant of the country had to go through this. Then, after the end of the seven-year term, the man became purehi. So called people who worked for public needs and paid taxes. After 50 years, a person moved to another age category and was engaged in raising children.

In a great empire, any inhabitant could reach a high position in society. The main thing was not origin, but service to the empire. An experienced warrior or a talented speaker enjoyed universal respect and reverence, regardless of who his parents were.

The supreme power in the country was inherited. The one who ascended the throne received the prefix "Inca" to his name. In a narrow sense, it meant the title of the ruler, as in Europe the king or emperor. The Incas were also called full-fledged members of the Cusco community, who were descendants of an ancient tribe that recognized the power of the children of the Sun God Inti. They seemed to be considered "Incas by blood."

Representatives of other tribes that inhabited the empire could also receive the corresponding title for special services to the state. In this case, it was inherited by the whole family, and its members were considered "Inca by privilege."

The last years of the empire

In 1525, the supreme leader of the empire, Huayna Capacu, dies. He divides the state into two parts between his sons. One will be inherited by Atahualpa, the other by Huáscar.

The capital of Cuzco goes to Huascar, and he rightfully acquires the supreme title of the Inca. But the second brother does not agree with the will of his father. An internecine war begins.

It ends only in 1531 with the defeat of Huascar. He is captured and sent to a high mountain village, where he must live as a prisoner until his death. All power passes to Atahualpa. The situation in the empire is stabilizing.

But the new year 1532 makes its own adjustments to a more or less settled life after the great strife. On the lands of the empire appear Spanish conquistadors. 110 foot soldiers and 67 horsemen are disembarked from a sailing ship to conquer a land that contains as much gold as sand in the desert.

History of Francisco Pizarro

He commands a Spanish military detachment (1475-1541) - a powerful, cruel, ruthless man. Adventurer to the marrow of bones, without principles and ideals. He has one goal - gold.

Francisco
Pizarro

He was born in Spain, becoming a sad consequence of the sinful relationship of a loving Castilian nobleman, Captain Gonzalo Pizarro and a frivolous peasant woman. The parents cursed their daughter, but they raised the child. Having become a mature young man, he entered the royal military service. But in the lands of the Old World on the battlefield he did not show himself in any way and already at an advanced age (by the standards of the 16th century) he left for Panama.

The life of a colonist, the future merciless conqueror of the Indians, began in 1519. From the general mass of hunters for luck, he did not stand out in any way. He lived quietly and inconspicuously. Few people paid attention to him: an elderly man, limited in means, without serious connections and opportunities.

One autumn day he goes hunting and suddenly disappears. His disappearance did not excite anyone, and the appearance alive and healthy three months later did not cause either joy or surprise among those around him.

But after a few days, everyone notices that it is not clear where the person who has been absent for a long time has changed dramatically. He becomes energetic and eloquent, easy to communicate and charming, shows brilliant abilities in learning foreign languages. Causing universal disposition, he makes many friends, and in just a few months he is elected mayor of the city in which he lives.

Very soon, Francisco Pizarro establishes friendly relations with the governor of Panama and his entourage. He charms ladies, evokes sympathy in men. The doors of the wealthiest houses in the colony open wide before him. But our hero understands: he is no longer young and it is too late to make a brilliant career.

Soon he meets the inveterate adventurer Diego de Almagro and the priest Hernando de Luca, greedy to the marrow of his bones. These two rave about gold, which lies in incredible quantities in the temples and palaces of Indian cities located far to the south.

Using his gift of persuasion and charm, skillfully playing on base feelings, our hero persuades the governor to equip a military expedition to the lands of modern Colombia. Here, according to him, there are many rich cities of the redskins, stuffed with gold.

In 1524, the governor gives the go-ahead, and Pizarro becomes the head of his first military expedition. It ends in complete failure after 12 months.

But failure does not discourage the illegitimate Spaniard. On the contrary, she inspires him to new attempts to get rich quick and take the appropriate place in high society.

In 1526, the second military expedition sets off to the lands of modern Ecuador. It lasts more than two years and does not bring a single peso. But instead of despicable metal, the cunning and dexterous adventurer gets a very important information, which is worth no less than a chest of gold.

The locals tell him about the fabulously rich country. It lies far to the south in the mountains. There is a lot of gold in those lands, it just lies underfoot. Our hero understands - this is his last chance. At the same time, he does not want to share fame and fortune with the governor of Panama.

In 1530, Francisco Pizarro leaves the New World. A high-speed sailboat delivers him to the lands of Spain. Here, with amazing ease, he achieves an audience with King Charles V.

It is not known what the adventurer talked about with the crowned lady, but he returns back as a captain-general, adelantade, and his cloak adorns the family coat of arms of the marquis. In his hand he victoriously squeezes the letter signed by His Majesty. It speaks of the right given to him to the governorship over all the lands lying 1000 miles south of Panama.

The newly-made governor does not waste time in vain and equips the third military expedition in 1531. A few months later, he lands on the lands of Tahuantinsuyu. The Inca Empire in all its glory lies before him.

Decline of the Inca Empire

High Chief Atahualpa learns very quickly about the pale-faced strangers. He tells his scouts to find out everything about these strange aliens, but the thing is that the Indians have never seen horses in their eyes. Hence, the reports of the latter differ, causing bewilderment and confusion at the court.

So some scouts claim that beings with four legs and two heads are leading the aliens. They sleep standing up, see at night as during the day, and instead of words they make strange loud sounds.

Others say that unknown creatures on four legs have two parts that can separate from each other and walk on their own. The bottom part is the main one. The upper one serves only to collect fruits that grow on trees.

The detachment led by Francisco Pizarro meets no resistance from the locals. Horror and fear run before the Spanish conquistadors. Cities and villages on the path of fortune hunters are empty. The population hastily leaves them, leaving their homes and acquired property to the mercy of fate.

The detachment is located in the city center. The soldiers are tired after a long march, they need rest. But the ambitious commander is impatient. He insists on a further march to the Indian capital of Cuzco.

A military council is assembled, which continues until late at night. So without making an unambiguous decision, the conquistadors disperse, deciding to continue the debate with a fresh mind. But the morning dawn makes its own adjustments to the strategic plans of the conquerors.

A small detachment of Spaniards is surrounded. A huge 40,000-strong Inca army filled all the surrounding streets, cutting off the conquistadors from the outside world.

Long negotiations begin. Pizarro uses all his intelligence, eloquence, insight and, in the end, arranges a meeting with the supreme leader of the land of Tahuantinsuyu.

November 16, 1532 Atahualpa, surrounded by a large retinue, is on the square of the city of Cajamarco. Under the terms of the treaty, the Indians are unarmed.

Our hero approaches the supreme leader, and they talk face to face for a while. From the outside it seems that the conversation is very friendly and warm. The people accompanying Atahualpa relax, lose their vigilance.

Suddenly, the conquistadors rush at the unarmed Indians. A terrible massacre begins. The whole retinue perishes, no one is left alive. The lord of the empire himself is declared a prisoner of the Spanish king.

For his release, the Spaniards demand heaps of gold and silver. The subjects of the paramount chief collect required amount precious metals and brought by the conquistador. But Atahualpa is not released. On August 29, 1533, he was treacherously killed, and on November 15, the invaders entered the city of Cusco.

The Spaniards seize power, but are not able to manage a huge state. They do not know the customs of this land and understand that they will not be able to keep the people in obedience.

Pizarro appoints Huascar Capac, the brother of the slain, as supreme leader. The adventurer hopes that he has found a worthy assistant, but then his intuition fails him.

Huascar Capacu raises an uprising and in 1536 besieges Cuzco. The siege lasts six months, but the Incas, unaccustomed to such a war, begin to scatter. The rebel leader is forced to retreat to the mountains.

Here, in an area inaccessible to the conquistadors, he creates the Novoinsky kingdom. It becomes the center of the struggle for independence, which continues for many more years. Only after the assassination of Huascar Capacu in 1572 did the rebels stop resisting and recognize the authority of the Spanish crown.

The further fate of our hero develops as follows. He becomes the royal governor, concentrates in his hands enormous power and wealth. In 1535, by his decree, the city of Lima was founded. It seems that the ambitious Spaniard has achieved everything he dreamed of.

But in 1540 a strange metamorphosis takes place with him. From a tough, strong-willed and domineering leader, he turns into a timid, insecure and conscientious person. His surroundings instantly feel it.

The result is immediate. The closest friend and assistant of Diego de Almagro accuses the governor of unauthorized appropriation of a large amount of gold. Enraged conquistadors kill the recently adored commander and ally.

This happens in 1541, but shortly before his death, the great adventurer talks with a priest and tells him a strange story.

The amazing story of Francisco Pizarro

Twenty years ago, he went hunting, fell off a cliff, hit his head on a stone and lost consciousness. I woke up in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by strange people with elongated heads.

These people explained that he had a fatal head injury, but they managed to save the unlucky hunter by performing a craniotomy and replacing the crushed bones with gold plates.

The brain also suffered, so the mysterious Aesculapius had no choice but to manipulate the gray matter. During the operation, they activated some of the repressed centers of his hemispheres.

Now our hero has changed internally: he has become more courageous, resolute. He woke up intuition, oratorical talent appeared, memory became perfect, concentration of attention increased, intelligence improved significantly. True, the Aesculapius could not make him a kind and disinterested person, as they were very limited in time.

When asked by our hero why they needed all this, the mysterious people replied that they could not do otherwise. For thousands of years they have been improving human nature by interfering with the vital activity of the brain. Operations are carried out with a cycle of 15 years. After each, the shape of the skull changes slightly, eventually, the head is stretched out, becoming like a large egg.

History has not preserved the name of the priest who spoke with the great adventurer shortly before his death. But what is interesting in late XIX century in Peru, a burial dated to the 16th century was found. Several bodies were found in it, which had elongated skulls. The frontal and occipital bones on them were professionally surgically removed and replaced with gold plates.

In the future, pundits considered this a skillful falsification. Maybe they are right, but in any case, the earth holds amazing secrets. The amazing fate of Francisco Pizarro is another confirmation of this.

The article was written by ridar-shakin

One of the side sons of a Castilian nobleman, captain Gonzalo Pizarro and a simple peasant woman, Francisco Gonzalez. He spent his childhood in the house of his mother's parents, according to legend, she grazed pigs. He enlisted as a soldier early. Perhaps in his early youth he took part in campaigns in Italy. In 1502 he went to the New World on about. Hispaniola (Haiti). Member of the voyage of A. Ojeda (1509) to Uraba Bay, the capture of Panama (1510). In 1513, Pizarro, already with the rank of captain, participated in the expedition of V. Nunez de Balboa, which opened a passage to the Pacific Ocean (South Sea). In 1519-23 he was mayor and alcalde of a town founded by the Spaniards in Panama, but his material affairs were generally not brilliant.

Influenced by rumors mysterious country Eldorado decided to try his luck and, together with his soldier Diego Almagro and chaplain Hernando Luque, gathered a detachment. At first, his expedition enjoyed wide support; it was possible to equip many ships that set off to conquer the western coast of Colombia (1524-25). The next campaign (1526-28) was sent to Ecuador. After an unsuccessful search for gold, Pizarro, along with some adherents, remained to explore the offshore islands, while Almagro returned to Panama for reinforcements. But the new governor of Panama appointed at that time refused to support the expedition members. Having received this information, Pizarro drew a line on the ground with his sword, calling on those who seek wealth and glory to cross this line. Those who decided to do this, Pizarro called the "glorious thirty." Moving forward, the brave men reached the lands of the Inca empire, which they called Peru. Pizarro did not dare to go on a conquest with such small forces and returned to Panama, where the governor still refused to support his enterprise. Pizarro departed for Spain to win the favor of the emperor. At the same time (in the spring of 1528), E. Cortes was also at court, presenting to Charles V clear evidence of the riches of the New World. The king favorably reacted to Pizarro's plans, appointed him captain-general (governor) of Peru and adelantado (leader of the conquistador detachment), and also promoted him to the marquis.

Pizarro returned from Spain with his four brothers, and the members of the “glorious thirty” were not forgotten: they all received new titles and promises of all kinds of privileges in new lands. In January 1531 he launched a new campaign of conquest in Peru. He had one ship, 180 men and 37 horses. Subsequently, two more ships joined the expedition. In April of the same year, they met with the envoys of the supreme Inca Atahualpa, who, to repulse the conquerors, gathered an army of 30 thousand Indians. Inca was in the city of Cajamarca, where he invited Pizarro to meet. Arriving in November 1531, Pizarro landed his artillery and sent his brother Hernando along with a group of other Spaniards to reconnoiter. Ataulapa left the fortress to meet the Spaniards with small forces (about 3-4 thousand Indians), practically without weapons. The priest Vicente de Valverde met the Inca and began to persuade him to accept Christianity and recognize himself as a vassal of the Spanish king. Atahualpa did not agree, began to argue with the Spaniards and threw away the bible. The priest reported this to Pizarro, who ordered to begin immediately fighting. As always, the Indians were afraid of horses, the Inca was surrounded on all sides and captured (according to legend, by Pizarro personally). In exchange for his freedom, he promised the Spaniards a ransom - a room completely filled with gold and silver. However, the Spaniards found fault with the fact that Atahualpa had executed his rival Huascar (allegedly who wanted to convert to Christianity) in an internecine war and organized a mock trial, during which Atahualpa was sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out on August 29, 1533. At the news of the execution of the Supreme Inca, the entire Indian army fled, and Pizarro freely reached Cuzco, the capital of the empire. Having occupied it, the Spaniards proclaimed Manco Capac, Huascar's brother, the legitimate Supreme Inca.

Pizarro appropriated the lion's share of the booty to himself and his brothers. Almagro began to protest against this inequality, bringing to light the old agreement on equal shares of the three partners who wanted to win the Eldorado. Pizarro sent a former friend to conquer Chile, but, disappointed by the poverty of these lands, Almagro arbitrarily returned to Peru. Here he was arrested and executed by Hernando Pizarro, one of Francisco's brothers.

Francisco Pizarro at this time continued the conquest of Peru. In 1535 he founded the cities of Lima and Trujillo. He also sent detachments to conquer Ecuador, Bolivia, part of Argentina (the expedition of S. Belalcazar). At the end of December, he began a new military campaign against the Incas, occupied the main territory of the country; in 1535–1537 he crushed an Indian uprising. Dissatisfied Pizarro united around Almagro's son, Diego Jr. They broke into Pizarro's palace in Lima and killed him. According to legend, before his death, he drew a cross with his blood, kissed it and died crying "Jesus".

(between 1470 and 1475-1541)

Spanish conquistador. Member of the expedition to New Andalusia (1509); participant in the conquest of the territory of Panama (1510), aggressive campaigns (1513). In 1524, he led a detachment that went in search of El Dorado (in Peru). Indian resistance forced him to return to Panama. In 1527 he penetrated the coast of the Gulf of Guayaquil. A year later he moved to Spain. He was appointed captain general and adelantado of Peru. In 1531 he began a new campaign of conquest against Peru. In 1532, he invaded the territory of Tahuantinsuyu, captured the supreme ruler Atahualpa, who was later sentenced to death at his command, and, having established the power of Spain over the lands of the Incas, turned Peru into a base for expanding Spanish rule. He began to seize the territory of modern Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, parts of Argentina and Chile (expeditions of S. Belalcazar and D. de Almagro). Founded the cities of Lima and Trujillo (1535). Brutally suppressed the uprising of the Indians (1535-37). In 1537, between Pizarro and his brothers, on the one hand, and Almagro, on the other, an internecine struggle broke out, ending in the execution of Almagro. Pizarro was killed in his own house on June 26, 1541 by Almagro's son, Diego de Almagro Jr.

Conquest of Peru by F. Pizarro

In 1519, Pedrarias Avila founded the city of Panama near the South Sea - the first Spanish point in the Pacific Ocean. Soon the Spaniards heard rumors about Peru, a wealthy state in the south. Pascual Andagoya, who served at Avila, by 1522 moved south from the Gulf of Panama along the Pacific coast of South America to the delta of the river. San Juan (4°N). He discovered about 400 km of initially mountainous, and to the south of a swampy strip with a very rare population, and probably visited the Gulf of Buenaventura. Andagoya collected and brought to Panama in 1522 more definite information about the "great empire of Biru" (Peru), located further south, high in the Andes, not far from the coast. But Andagoya fell seriously ill during the trip and was unable to look for a promising country.

Francisco Pizarro, who dreamed of the glory and wealth of Cortes, took up this business. But in order to open and conquer Peru, funds were required, and F. Pizarro did not have them. Moving from Balboa to the service of Avila, he participated in raids on the Panamanian Indians, but the division of booty and land did not suit him, for his services he received from Avila a small estate near the city of Panama. In Panama, in addition to Pizarro, there lived another old conquistador without funds - Diego Almagro, both turned to wealthy people and organized a union of a sword and a money bag - a kind of "society on shares", which included the influential and wealthy minister of the church Hernan Luque, Almagro and Pizarro , The governor of Avila was brought in as a companion: without his "patronage" of the organizers of the expedition, the fate of Balboa could befall. But Avila agreed to participate only in the profits. Not having large funds, the company could only recruit 112 soldiers and equip two ships. In November 1524, Pizarro and Almagro reached, like Andagoya, only as far as 4°N. sh. They did not have enough food supplies and at the beginning of 1525 they had to return to Panama with nothing.

In November 1526, commanding 160 soldiers, they tried again on three ships and went to the mouth of the river. San Juan (at 4°N), where they split up. Pizarro remained on the island, Almagro returned to Panama for reinforcements and supplies. One of the ships under the command of the pilot Barlome Ruiz moved further south for another 700 km, discovered the river delta. Patia (Biru) and Tumaco Bay and crossed the equator. The sailors saw the giant snowy peak of Chimborazo. (6272 m) and captured several Peruvians on the opposite Raft. The captives confirmed the stories of the vast size and wealth of the countries lying to the south, and the power of the Incas, to whom it belonged. Ruiz delivered several samples of Peruvian goldwork to Pizarro. On the same ship, the Spaniards crossed to the south - to an island in Tumaco Bay. The shores here were unhealthy, swampy, with mangroves. For three or four weeks, Pizarro's people suffered from hunger and disease, most of them died.

Meanwhile, important events took place in Panama: Avila had died by that time (August 29, 1527). The new governor decided to put an end to the "crazy" attempts, begun against his will (that is, before his arrival) and, moreover, by a person of such "dark origin" as Pizarro. He sent a ship for Pizarro with orders to immediately return to Panama. And on the island there was a scene that some historians call theatrical and therefore consider it implausible. It, however, fully corresponds to the character of Pizarro, as described by the most reliable historical documents. The people of Pizarro began to consult, and many were glad to have the opportunity to return to Panama, to their estates. Then Pizarro, red with anger, stepped forward, drew a line in the sand with his sword, stepped over the line and said, turning to his timid comrades: “Castilians! This path [to the south] leads to Peru and wealth, that path [to the north] leads to Panama and poverty. Choose!” Only 13 people followed Pizarro, including Ruiz, the captain of the Panamanian ship took the rest on board and set sail, leaving the "rebels" without supplies, to their fate. And Pizarro and his comrades, afraid to remain on the coastal island, crossed on a balsa raft to the island lying 50 km from the coast. Gorgon (3°N, 78°W).

They spent more than half a year there, getting food for themselves by hunting birds and collecting shellfish. Pizarro's companions nevertheless obtained permission from the governor to equip one ship at their expense. On it, Pizarro went south along the coast and landed at the huge Guayaquil Bay, where he saw cultivated fields and the large city of Tumbes. He continued to sail south, to 9 ° S. sh. (mouth of the Santa River), discovered the Western Cordillera of the Peruvian Andes and more than 1200 km of the Pacific coast of South America. On the shore, he obtained live llamas, fine vigoni wool, gold and silver vessels, and captured several young Peruvians. With such trophies, Pizarro could return to Spain with honor. No one now would doubt the wealth of Peru, which he discovered and which he proposed to conquer. However, the creditors were the first to "welcome" him; for non-payment of debts in the summer of 1528 he was imprisoned.

The stories of F. Pizarro, confirmed by convincing evidence, made a strong impression in Spain. Charles I ordered him released from prison, granted a patent for the conquest of Peru, appointed him governor of the country, but did not allocate funds; the term for equipping the expedition was short - six months. There were, however, "kind people", including Cortes, who financed the enterprise, which promised huge profits. Francisco Pizarro immediately began recruiting volunteers in his homeland of Extremadura. First of all, he attracted, of course, relatives, including three half-brothers - the elder Hernando, the younger Juan and Gonzalo Pizarro. Almagro did not receive a high appointment. He saw that F. Pizarro surrounded himself with relatives, who pushed him into the background. But he still relied on an agreement on the distribution of booty and even agreed to temporarily remain in the rear, hoping to appear in Peru with a large detachment at a decisive moment; Pizarro had only 180 men, 36 of them cavalrymen.

On December 27, 1530, the detachment of F. Pizarro left Panama on three ships. He landed at the equator and moved from there by dry route to the south. At the beginning of 1532, in the Gulf of Guayaquil, he tried to capture Fr. Puna, but the local Indians defended themselves so courageously that six months later the greatly depleted detachment moved to the southern coast of the bay, to Puerto Pizarro, near Tumbes. Here Pizarro stood for another three months, but this time did not waste time; he received reinforcements from Panama and collected accurate information about the internal state of the Inca state. The country has just ended a three-year internecine war and the supreme Inca Huascar was defeated and captured by his brother Atahualpa. In September 1532, Atahualpa, with a detachment of five thousand Indians, was in the mountainous city of Cajamarca, which lies at 7 ° S. sh., on one of the upper tributaries of the river. Maranion.

The Pizarro brothers, among whom the "husband of the council" was the old man Hernando, considered the moment favorable for a campaign inland. On September 24, 1532, they set out with most of their people from the Gulf of Guayaquil to the south along the coastal lowland, crossed the Western Cordillera and climbed the highlands. Their campaign was facilitated by the fact that the Incas laid good roads with suspension bridges across mountain rivers. The detachment of F. Pizarro consisted of 62 cavalrymen and 106 infantrymen, of which only 23 had firearms. Atahualpa did not obstruct the Spaniards. On November 15 they entered Cajamarca and camped there; Atahualpa's five thousandth detachment was two miles from the city. Hernando Pizarro, accompanied by an interpreter, went to Atahualpa, and he, seeing how the strangers trusted him, agreed to a meeting.

According to the traditional version, on the night after inspecting the Atahualpa camp, the Pizarro brothers, together with officers Hernando Soto and Sevastian Moyano de Belalcazar (or Benalcazar) and the monk Vicente Valverde, drew up a daring plan, which they carried out with unprecedented impudence even for that time. Three groups of Spaniards were hidden in ambush - apparently, both sides agreed that they would meet away from their troops. Atahualpa arrived at the square in a golden palanquin, which was carried on the shoulders of noble people. 300 unarmed Indians went ahead, removing stones and rubbish from the road; the chief Inca was followed on a stretcher and in hammocks by chiefs and elders. When the procession stopped, Valverde approached Atahualpa and read out a recerimiento (notice) - a document about the voluntary recognition of the authority of the Spanish king by the Incas. Atahualpa asked how he could be sure that everything he was told was true. Valverde referred to the Gospel, which he handed to him. Inca turned it over, leafed through it, said that this book does not speak, and threw it away. Then Valverde shouted to the Spaniards: "At them, at them!" Francisco Pizarro ordered a volley to be fired, the riders from the ambush rushed to Atahualpa from three sides, and at the same time the foot soldiers appeared. Pizarro himself rushed to the stretcher, grabbed the Inca by the very long hair, pulled him out of the stretcher, threw him to the ground and tied him up. The Indians of the retinue of Atahualpa, who were attacked from three sides by riders, fled in panic, knocking each other down. Seeing the flight, a detachment of many thousands of Indians, who were in the distance, went north, to the equator, without a fight.

The Spaniards with the captured Inca returned to Cajamarca. On January 5, 1533, Hernando Pizarro, with 20 horsemen and a few foot soldiers, went south to the Pacific coast in search of Atahualpa's treasures. The detachment proceeded along the middle course of a small river. Santa to the headwaters along the western slopes of the Cordillera Blanca and reached the ocean coast at 10 ° 30 "S. E. Pizarro first examined about 200 km of the coastline further south to 12 ° 30" S. sh. He did not find treasures, but chose a convenient place for laying the foundation of the city of Lima. Hernando then crossed the Western Cordillera near 11°S. sh. and walked along the river valley. Mantaro (a tributary of one of the components of the Ucayali River, the Amazon basin) in the city of Hauha (near 12 ° S). The detachment returned to Cajamarca on April 25. Passing through a rich country with a dense, friendly population, E. Pizarro crossed several rivers, including one large one near its source, not suspecting that this was the great Marañon - the Amazon. For about 250 km, he moved along mountain roads laid along the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Blanca near the huge gorge of the river. Maranion. In the absence of Hernando, Almagro arrived in Cajamarca with reinforcements recruited from the "dregs" of the Panamanian people.

Atahualpa, imprisoned, realized that the conquistadors valued gold more than anything else in the world. On its wall, he drew a line as high as he could reach with his hand, and offered an unheard-of ransom - to fill the dungeon to the line with gold. Pizarro accepted the offer, and Atahualpa sent messengers in all directions to collect gold vessels and other temple decorations. By July 1533, heaps of gold had been collected, but not all of the ransom had been delivered. Pizarro lost his patience, especially since the resources of the Inca seemed to have already been exhausted. He accused the Inca of conspiring against the Spaniards, of killing Huascar, of idolatry, polygamy, etc. Atahualpa was sentenced to be burned. But since he agreed to be baptized, on July 26 he was “only” strangled. F. Pizarro elevated Manco Capac, the son of Huascar, to the throne of Peru, and on August 11 he went with him to the southeast, to the Inca capital of Cusco.

The detachment repeated the route of E. Pizarro, but in the opposite direction, to the city of Haukhi, which had to be captured by force; the Spaniards spent two weeks there (October 12-27, 1533). On the way to Cusco, the soldiers of F. Pizarro withstood four battles and opened a rapid river. Apurimac, the left component of the Ucayali (Amazon basin), flowing in a deep narrow gorge. F. Pizarro entered Cuzco on November 15, and on March 23, 1534 he officially proclaimed the capital of the Incas a Spanish city and soon returned to Xauhu. He sent to Spain the royal "fifth" - a large cargo of gold, and new crowds of profit seekers rushed to South America; sailing between Panama and Peru became more frequent. At the end of August, F. Pizarro headed from Jauja to the ocean in order to finally choose a place for laying the city, and on January 5, 1535, he founded the "City of Kings", later called Lima, where he transferred the center of the country. Probably, his lieutenants, partially repeating the work of E. Pizarro, explored the coast 450 km north of Lima: in July 1535, F. Pizarro founded another city - Trujillo (at 80 ° S. lat.).

Before speaking from Cajamarca to Cuzco (August 11, 1533), F. Pizarro sent his captain Sevastian Moyano, who went down in the history of discoveries as Belalcazar, to accompany part of the treasures collected in the country to be sent to Spain. He delivered them to San Miguel (now Paita, at 5 ° S. Lat.) - the only port that has been functioning for a while. Here Belalcazar learned that in the north, in the valleys of the Equatorial Andes, there is another capital of the empire - Quito, which the Incas intended to make the second Cuzco. The conquistador decided that there might be great treasures in Quito, and at the head of a detachment of 200 people, including 62 horsemen, moved there in early March 1534. In the campaign, now climbing the passes, then descending into the gorges and several times crossing the Pacific-Atlantic divide, the Spaniards prevailed in numerous small skirmishes. And in late April - early May, they came out victorious in two battles with a 15- and 50-thousand army of Indians, who lost up to 4 thousand people; the conquistadors were missing four soldiers. The distance from San Miguel to Quito, which is 600 km in a straight line, Belalcazar overcame in four months. Around June 22, he managed to capture Quito, and in July he advanced 100 km to the north. In the middle of 1535, the conquistador followed his two lieutenants even further - beyond the borders of the Inca empire to conquer the tribes of South Colombia, and thus the northern border of the Spanish possessions reached about 3 ° N. sh. As a result of Belalcazar's campaigns, the Spaniards got acquainted with the Equatorial Andes for almost 1200 km.

Bibliography

1. Latin America. Encyclopedic reference book (in 2 volumes). T. 2. - Moscow: Publishing House "Soviet Encyclopedia", 1982. - 656 p.
2. Magdovich IP Essays on the history of geographical discoveries. T. II. Great geographical discoveries (the end of the 15th - the middle of the 17th century) / I. P. Magidovich, V. I. Magidovich. - Moscow: Education, 1983. - 400 p.