Francisco Pizarro and the Fall of the Incan Empire, Research Paper Example

Being able to conquer a land was one important reputation for conquistadors in the Spanish regions. Between the 1400s towards the 1500s, the rise of imperialism has become one of the most sought after procedures that aimed to expand the territorial marks of the administrative governance of each surviving King in the years of social chaos and distinct course of wars that was happening during the time[1]. Hence, for Francisco Pizarro Gonzales, his being born in Trujuilo Spain was something that was meant to be. He believes that he was destined to do grand things and accomplish grand achievements that would prove his standing in the face of imperial Spain[2].

Being born at a poor state in the middle of familial state of chaos, Francisco wanted to prove himself not only to the society that marks him down, but to himself as well. He wanted to find a better meaning to his existence amidst all the supposed labeling that people were putting on him. He then decided to take on the role of being a Spanish conquistador. Although he was not given proper attention nor given the chance to access good education, it was evident that his desire to become ‘someone’ has lead him to realizing great things and great ambitions for himself. Getting away from Spain and sailing towards the ‘New World’, he went with Alonzo de Ojeda to Urabi[3]. Sailing to Cartagena, he was able to meet other sailors along the way and was somehow given the chance to sail with them and their crew. This began his early voyages and early travels out the sea. Mastering the process of journeying to the sea, Francisco was somewhat given the chance to get a glimpse of the future he planned for himself; being a conquistador.

His success was first marked when he was rewarded to take on the position of Mayor in Panama City between the years 1519 to 1523[4]. This reward was given to him by the Governor of Castilla de Orro when he surrendered Balboa for arrest in the city. Being a Mayor of the city, he was able to receive first hand news reports about the different developments in the land and the people living in it. Among the news reports that have enticed him the most is that of the notable successes of Cortes, a famous conquistador at that time. As the Mayor of Panama City, Francisco could be noted to have achieved something, and yet he knew that he was not living the dream he wanted to become. Hearing about the rich domains of Peru and the successful voyages of Cortes, he felt envious and decided to make a name for his own.

In 1524 and 1526, Francisco took several attempts to conquer the people of Peru. The Incan tribe was among the strongest tribes in the land[5]. With their strong cooperation and persistent desire to preserve their culture and their people, they were able to set up defense against Francisco Pizarro. However, being the persistent and aggressive individual as he is, Francisco did well to learn from such failures. During the time, he tried to observe the people their behavior and their way of living and established a plan that would not fail in the next attempt to conquer the land.

In 1528, he decided to move up north of Peru and entered the land ther[6]e. He saw how much wealth the leaders of the land owned and how much the land had in its glorious territories. This made Francisco even more interested in getting into the area and making the best out of his journey; he was set to conquer the land, its leaders and its people. However, this time, he was aiming to finally make it to the final thread of his goal and make sure that he does conquer Peru. He knew he needed support, hence he went to the governor and told him about the plan. The governor did not agree to it but Francisco was persistent that he went to the King of Spain, King Charles I, and laid to him the plan of his conquest. The king finally approves  and gives him the chance to claim any successful conquest he takes giving him the authority to take over the land as its leader.

Joined by his family in 1530, Francisco began his travels and head on for Peru[7]. Since he already has a distinct knowledge of the defense system of the people and the leaders of the land, he decided to take another route and directly set his government inland. This way, he was able to establish the first Spanish settlement in Peru within the territories of San Miguel de Piura. The people knew of this foreign man and they understood what he wanted; no matter how seemingly peaceful he came, they knew that he meant nothing but trouble to the land, to the people and the thriving culture among the communities settled in the area. They knew how much aggressive he was, nevertheless, they failed to see the strategies he aimed to use to make sure that he is able to get the land he wanted and get the attention of the people to make sure his plans work out.

The Incan leader, Inca Atahualpa, tried the best he could to resist the Spanish invasion in his land and among his people. He felt the need to protect whatever it was that they had. At first, it was not even about protecting their gold nor any of their wealthy reserves; it was all about preserving their values, their people and their distinct ways of living. While Atahualpa was trying to establish a plan of defense, Francisco was already plotting a setup, a process of blackmailing the Incan leader and defaming his name amongst his people. Francisco knew of the ways of the Incan communities and he knew how much they respected their leader as their god. He then understood that to conquer the land and its people, he must first establish a strong source of disbelief on the leader; with such commotion of understanding their status on the community, the people would be easier to break and their systems would be easier to manage and change towards developing a new civilization.

During the Battle of Cajamarca in 1532, Francisco captured Atahualpa and held him prisoner[8]. While there was a ransom that the people paid for to release their leader, Francisco Pizarro then found a way to take the chance of brainwashing the thoughts of the people regarding the personality and the real being of their leader. Given that he was not given the chance to defend himself, Atahualpa was repeatedly accused by Francisco about several crimes and finally presented him to the people for execution in 1533. The people, believing that Francisco was telling the truth, did not hesitate to see their leader be executed in public. The completion of the conquest of Peru ended in Cuzco, the Incan capital. At this point, Francisco Pizarro considered his goals achieved. Nevertheless, staying in power was not easy especially that he was surrounded by supposedly envious individuals. He needed to withstand criticisms and several plots against his leadership from within his own administration.

Later on, he died out of assassination in 1541 under the hands of his own embittered son[9]. His attitude and his behavior towards the people, towards his leadership and even towards his own family has enraged his own son and motivated him to take his father’s life within his own hand. His body was laid to rest within the Lima Cathedral. The family of Francisco Pizarro also decided to put up a palace for his name and made sure that such structure would make a mark of the supposedly grand things that he has made for Peru. Nevertheless, not all Peruvians agree to the matter fully.

What makes a man the way that he is, is the way the he handles the possibilities of enriching his life with the fulfillment of his dreams and his goals. Considering that Francisco Pizarro came from such a disappointing background especially in relation to his familial setup [with his father and his mother], it is but natural for him to become more than just persistent to make up something better for himself. His desire to prove his worth as a conquistador was somewhat reflective of such desire to be known and be detached from a supposed labeling that the society has already given him. It was necessary for him to make sure that his ideals come true and that he would make a name that the people would recognize to be deserving of their respect. Such fulfillment gives him a better chance of proving to himself the worth that he has as a person.

Considerably, his personal history was devastating. This is why seeing Peru’s riches was a distinct mark to his desire of being known. It was more personal than a patriarchal goal. Perhaps, it is also his personal history that has lead him to develop particular attitudes that has made it easier for him to plot out a distinct plan that was sure to capture the Incan empire. It should be realized that the Incan tribes in Peru lived rich and organized lives. Their leader, their god, was among the most prominent individuals they follow. They have their spiritual advisers and gurus who give them the direction on how they should live their lives at a much better pace. These groups were solidified by their faith. They had more than just the desire to live, they had the desire to please their gods and the spiritual elements that they believe surround them. While this could be a noted strength of the society, these were the very elements Francisco Pizarro used to make sure that they would turn their heads against their leader and make a move when everything and everyone was already weak in their faith.

The concept of divide and conquer has created a great chance for Francisco Pizarro to be more effective in his conquest[10]. His strategies were solid as that of his desires. He knew that his goal towards determining a better path for himself and his family would not only have personal but a national effect on the Spanish regime and its established position in the field of global imperialism. Nevertheless, every great man has to fall. His death in the hands of his son proved that there was something that Francisco Pizarro was not able to conquer, and that is the weakness of his own familial background. Drowned in his dreams and goals of being prominent, he met friends becoming enemies and family members becoming his primary nemesis. No, Francisco Pizarro does not have that much moral legacy to partake in history. His strategies proved him to be sleek and treacherous. His approaches to his goals proved him aggressive. However, with all these negative points, it could not be denied that he was able to turn around the hands of history and make a mark in its pages as the primary conqueror of a strong community of the Incan empire.

People in Peru have different ideas and reactions to the being and the role of Francisco Pizarro in their history. One of which is the fact that he has been able to break apart a solid culture that was a distinct legacy of the ancient Incans in the Peruvian community. These people knew that the rich culture of their people was among the elements destroyed under the conquering hands of Pizarro; perhaps a reason for them to have detestable conditions of perceiving the role of the conquistador in their history. Some others however view him as the one who has brought about a new sense of civilization in the country, one that it is able to thrive with for years. No matter how the people see it, it will never be removed in history books that Francisco Gonzales Pizarro is one of the most prominent individuals in the Spanish history that made a name in strategic ways of conquering lands and people.

Works Cited

Maples, WR; Gatliff, BP; Ludeña, H; Benfer, R; Goza, W (1989). “The death and mortal remains of Francisco Pizarro“. Journal of forensic sciences 34 (4): 1021–36.

Palmer, David. Peru: the authoritarian tradition. New York: Praeger, 1980,

Starn, Degregori, Kirk (1995) The Peru Reader: History, Culture, Politics; Quote by Pedro de Cieza de Leon; Published by Duke University Press.

D’Altroy, Terence N. (2005). The Incas. Blackwell Publishing: Malden, pp. 86-89; 111; 154-155

Moseley, Michael E. (2004). The Incas and their Ancestors (revised ed.) Thames & Hudson: London, pp. 81-85

McEwan, Gordon F. (2006). Incas: New Perspective. W.W. Norton & Company: New York, pp. 138-139

[1] Palmer, David. Peru: the authoritarian tradition. New York: Praeger, 1980

[2] Maples, WR; Gatliff, BP; Ludeña, H; Benfer, R; Goza, W (1989). “The death and mortal remains of Francisco Pizarro”. Journal of forensic sciences 34 (4): 1021–36.

[3] Maples, et al, (1989)

[4] Moseley, Michael E. (2004). The Incas and their Ancestors (revised ed.) Thames & Hudson: London, pp. 81-85

[5] Moseley, 2004

[6] McEwan, Gordon F. (2006). Incas: New Perspective. W.W. Norton & Company: New York, pp. 138-139

[7] McEwan, Gordon F. (2006). Incas: New Perspective. W.W. Norton & Company: New York, pp. 138-139

[8] Starn, Degregori, Kirk (1995) The Peru Reader: History, Culture, Politics; Quote by Pedro de Cieza de Leon; Published by Duke University Press.

[9] Maples, et al, 1989.

[10] Palmer, David. Peru: the authoritarian tradition. New York: Praeger, 1980,