Hernando Pizarro

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Hernando Pizarro
Born c. 1478–1508
Trujillo, Extremadura, Spain
Died c. 1578–1608 (aged 100)?
Nationality Spaniard
Occupation Conquistador
Known for The conquest of the Inca

Hernando Pizarro y de Vargas (born between 1478 and 1508, died 1578 or 1608) was a Spanish conquistador and one of the Pizarro brothers who ruled over Peru. He ultimately died in Spain at a very advanced age, unlike his brothers who all suffered violent ends.


Pizarro Brothers[edit]

As one of the Pizarro brothers, he was related to Francisco, Juan, and Gonzalo Pizarro. He had two full sisters, Inés Pizarro y de Vargas, who married but did not have children with Francisco's only legitimate son, and Isabel Pizarro y de Vargas, married to Gonzalo de Tapia. Through his father, he was second cousins to Hernán Cortés.[1]

The New World[edit]

Unlike his other brothers, he was born in wedlock, and he was educated and gained influence in the Spanish court. In 1530 Hernando departed for the New World with his half-brother, Francisco Pizarro, and accompanied him during his conquests in Peru. In 1533 Hernando was sent back to advance the Pizarro interests against Francisco's uneasy partner, Diego de Almagro, as Hernando had the best connections in the Spanish court. When he returned to Peru, he ruled with his other half-brothers (Juan and Gonzalo Pizarro) over the prized Inca capital of Cuzco. Governing with an iron fist, he helped with the eventual suppression of Inca uprisings led by Manco Cápac.



The execution of Almagro later that year and the general disorder caused by the Spanish infighting caused substantial fallout in the Spanish court. Hernando was again called upon to leverage his royal contacts: in 1539 he returned to Spain to lobby in favor of the Pizarros. Their perceived treachery was too great, however, and despite Hernando's bribery, he was imprisoned for the next twenty years.[2]:p.336–338 He left prison in 1560 and generally dropped out of sight, reportedly dying at the age of 100 in the year 1608. Other sources suggest he died in 1578[2]:p.338, and some that he was 72 at the time of death, which would make the year of his birth 1505 or 1506. If he in fact was 100 years old the year of his birth would be 1455 or 1457.






  3. ^ GeneAll.net - Fernando Pizarro

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