Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador known for his role in the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire in the early 16th century. Born around 1471 in Trujillo, Spain, he embarked on expeditions to the New World, where he eventually led a small force that captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa and claimed vast territories for Spain. Pizarro's actions significantly impacted the indigenous populations of South America and led to the establishment of Spanish colonial rule in the region. His legacy is complex, marked by both the wealth he brought to Spain and the suffering inflicted on the native peoples during the conquest.