ALMAGRO, DIEGO DE (c. 1470-1538), Spanish con quistador; a foundling, born in Spain about 147o. In 1526, he contracted with Francisco Pizarro (q.v.) an equal partnership in the conquest of Peru. Pizarro immediately assumed the prece dence; Almagro was delegated to provide reinforcements and supplies. He arrived in Peru in 1532, was present at the death of Atahuallpa (q.v.), assisted in the capture of Cuzco (Nov., and in 1534 was sent to stop Pedro de Alvarado's march upon Quito, from the coast. Receiving, in 1535, a royal grant of zoo leagues, south of Cuzco, he undertook the terrible march into Chile, but finding no gold, returned and seized Cuzco. In the battle of Abancay (1537), he destroyed Pizarro's army, but allow ing himself to be drawn into a truce, was completely routed by Hernando Pizarro at Las Salinas (April 1538) and captured. Con victed by his captor of treason against the crown, in July, he was garrotted in his prison, and beheaded in the public square of Cuzco.