Francisco Pizarro

This ruthless conquistador who toppled the Inca Empire came from humble origins. The illegitimate son of a soldier, Pizarro made his way to the New World to make his fortune. He took part in expeditions led by Alonso de Ojeda and Vasco Núñez de Balboa, before partnering up with Diego de Almagro and Hernando de Luque to lead an expedition of his own. The story of Pizarro's strategically brilliant, if ethically problematic, conquest of the Inca will draw readers in, as will the tale of how infighting among Pizarro's followers and those of Almagro led to Pizarro's death.