Almagro, Diego de (1475-1538), Spanish adventurer and soldier who explored and conquered Peru with Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro.
Almagro served in the Spanish navy and came to South America in 1514, settling in Panama five years later.
In 1524, he teamed up with his friend Francisco Pizarro to explore the Pacific coast south of Panama, mainly in search of gold. Their first two expeditions (1524-26) were difficult; they suffered from hunger and attacks from the natives, but learned of the wealth of the Incan Empire.
Charles V, the King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, gave Pizarro the authority to conquer and rule Peru in 1529. By 1533, assisted by Almagro, the country was his, after their murder of the Inca ruler Atahualpa. They divided up the region; Almagro ruled the region south of Cuzco.
In 1534, Charles sent Almagro to help conquer present-day Chile. The journey was arduous and unsuccessful and he grew jealous of Pizarro's success in Peru.
