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Diego de Almagro

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Diego de Almagro was a Spanish conquistador who played a major role in the exploration of western South America. A conquistador was a soldier or explorer who traveled to new lands to claim them for a kingdom. Almagro is remembered for his work in the Inca Empire and his leadership during early Spanish expeditions. His life was marked by great adventures, deep friendships, and eventually, a violent conflict with his former allies.

Diego-de-Almagro
Diego-de-Almagro

Almagro's early life was quite difficult and humble. He was born around 1475 in the Spanish villages of Almagro or Malagón. Because he was born to parents who were not married, his early years were spent moving between different towns. At age fifteen, he left home to seek adventure in the world. He traveled to Seville, a major port city in Spain. While there, he worked as a servant, or "criado," for a powerful official named Don Luis Gonzalez de Polanco. This connection helped Almagro secure a place on a ship bound for the New World.

Escudo de Diego de Almagro
Escudo de Diego de Almagro

Almagro arrived in the New World on June 30, 1514. He landed at Santa María la Antigua del Darién in Panama. During this time, he met Francisco Pizarro, a man who would become his most important partner. The two men joined expeditions together, such as a 14-month journey starting in December 1515. These long trips helped build a strong bond between them. Almagro also spent several years in Panama managing properties. During this period, he had a son named El Mozo.

Diego de Almagro y Francisco Pizarro en Castilla
Diego de Almagro y Francisco Pizarro en Castilla

By 1524, Almagro, Pizarro, and Hernando de Luque formed a formal association. Their goal was to discover and conquer lands further south in South America. This era involved the conquest of the Inca Empire. During one battle, known as the Battle of Punta Quemada, Almagro was struck by an arrow and lost an eye. Despite this injury, he continued to work alongside Pizarro. They helped establish new Spanish cities to hold the territory. Almagro helped found the city of Trujillo in Peru and a city near Quito called Santiago de Quito.

Descubrimiento de Chile por Diego de Almagro
Descubrimiento de Chile por Diego de Almagro

However, the friendship between Almagro and Pizarro began to fail. The two men disagreed over who should control the former Inca capital of Cuzco. This disagreement was fueled by legal disputes, such as the "Capitulacion de Toledo." This was a law that decided how much land and wealth each explorer would receive. Pizarro managed to secure a larger share of the rewards for himself. Although Almagro became quite wealthy and received the noble title of "Don," the tension grew. The dispute eventually turned into a civil war between their two groups of followers.

To seek his own riches, Almagro decided to lead an expedition into Chile. He left Cuzco on July 3, 1535, with approximately 750 men. He also took the religious leader of the Inca, Willaq Umu, and the brother of Manco Inca, Paullo Topa. The journey was incredibly difficult because they had to cross the Andes mountains. The group faced extreme cold, hunger, and exhaustion. Many people, especially the slaves who were not used to the high altitude, died during the crossing. Almagro initially believed the entire mission was a failure.

Estatua de Diego de Almagro en Almagro (España)
Estatua de Diego de Almagro en Almagro (España)

Despite the hardships, a small group of Almagro's men found the Valley of Copiapó. This discovery showed that there was land to be explored further south. However, Almagro's personal journey ended shortly after his expedition. In 1538, he fought the Pizarro brothers at the Battle of Las Salinas. Almagro was defeated in this battle. A few months later, he was executed in Cuzco. His life remains a significant part of the history of how Spanish influence spread across South America.

Diego-de-Almagro
Diego-de-Almagro
607 words

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Escudo de Diego de Almagro.svg
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File:Diego de Almagro y Francisco Pizarro en Castilla.jpg
Diego de Almagro y Francisco Pizarro en...
File:Descubrimiento de Chile por Diego de Almagro.jpg
Descubrimiento de Chile por Diego de Almagro.jpg
File:Estatua de Diego de Almagro en Almagro (España).jpg
Estatua de Diego de Almagro en Almagro...
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