Diego de Almagro

Diego de Almagro was a Spanish conquistador that is credited for being the first Spaniard to discover Chile.

Almagro was born in 1475 in Almagro, Crown of Castile. He arrived in the New World in 1514 in Panama. He lead his first conquest in 1515 and founded Villa de Acla. Almagro became good friends with Vasco Nunez de Balboa and Francisco Pizarro during the time of his conquests. In 1524 Almagro was part of the Conquest of Peru along with Pizarro. Almagro helped Pizarro found many of the new cities in Peru. In 1533 Almagro and Pizzaro helped take Cuzco. Almagro and Pizarro's friendship later deteriorated. Almagro left Cuzco in 1535 to explore Chile. Almagro subsequently crossed the Andes and discovered Chile for the Spaniards. He was eventually pushed out of Chile by the Mapuche. After returning, bitter and angry, he tried to enlist Incan help to take the weakened Cuzco. He eventually captured the city and took Hernando and Gonzalo Pizzaro captive. Francisco Pizzaro sent an army to recapture the city and free his brothers. Almagro fell ill, and in 1538 the brothers took their opportunity and defeated Almagro. He was executed later that year.