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Detail of Pizarro's tomb

Francisco was second cousin to Hernán Cortés, the famed conquistador of Mexico.

became the first Europeans to view the Pacific coast of the New World

Peru.

While the Inca often tolerated or incorporated the religions of their conquered ayllus they also imposed a state religion upon them. The Inca empire was a theocracy in which the Inca king, Sapa Inca, was the descendant of Inti, the sun god. The Inca required tribute, especially before and after battle, to certain gods. Regular and general festivals punctuated the labors of the empire's subjects with food drink and entertainments. Inti Raymi, the festival of the sun god, lasted nine nights, during which Sapa Inca would provide Aqhachicha, a maize beer, to first Inti, then himself, then the nobles, and finally to all people who attended.

Contemporary painting of Hernán Cortés.

Map depicting Cortés' invasion route

Emperor Charles V with Hound (1532), a painting by the 16th century artist Jakob Seisenegger.

Monument in Mexico City known as "Monumento al Mestizaje.

When the Governor of Cuba sent emissaries to arrest Cortés, he fought them and won, using the extra troops as reinforcements.

Born in Medellín, Extremadura, Spain, to a family of lesser nobility, Cortés chose to pursue a livelihood in the New World.