Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish soldier and explorer. Although he was born into a poor family, Pizarro settled in Panama City on the Pacific Coast, and became known as one of its most famous and richest citizens. However, rumours about a very wealthy Inca Empire were circulating at the time, and craving more wealth and excitement, Pizarro set out in 1524 in search of this empire. He traveled through much of the Pacific Coast of America along Peru, and after many years of failed attempts, Pizarro finally ‘discovered’ the Incan Empire.
Pizarro conquered the Incas brutally and quickly, and stole immense hoards of gold, silver, and other treasures. He looted, and generally destroyed the Incan capital of Cusco, and then founded Lima, which is the capital of modern Peru.