c. 1475-1541. Spanish conquistador who took
part in the expeditions of Balboa and others.
He explored the NW coast of South America in
1526-27, and conquered Peru 1531 with 180
followers. The Inca king Atahualpa was seized
and murdered. In 1535 Pizarro founded Lima.
Internal feuding led to Pizarro's
assassination. His half-brother Gonzalo
Pizarro (c. 1505-1548) explored the region
east of Quito 1541-42. He made himself
governor of Peru 1544, but was defeated and
executed.