ALMA'GBO, DIEGO D', a Spanish conquistador—i.e., adventurer—in the conquest of S. America, was b. in 1745. Ile was a foundling, and derived his name from the town in the vicinity of which he was found. Along with many other adventurers, he went, as was common in those days, to seek his fortune in the new world which Columbus had opened up. There he amassed considerable wealth by plunder, and became one of the most influ ential persons in the new colony of Darien, when he was persuaded to join Pizarro in his attack on Peru. The undertaking was crowned with astonishing success. lie was now appointed, it the absence of Pizarro, who had returned to Spain with rich presents, governor of the conquered country, and received permission of the Span ish court to conquer for himself a special province s. of the territory subdued by Pizarro. In 1534, therefore, he marched on Chili, penetrated deeply into the land, and returned in 1536, just when the Peruvians had flown to arms under their young inca, Mango Capac, and shut up the Spaniards in Cuzco and Lima. As these towns lay s. of Pizarro's district, they were claimed by A. He dispersed the Peruvian army before Cuzco, and advanced with his forces against Lima, hoping to make himself sole master of the country. But the crafty Pizarro contrived, by means of a
truce, to gain time for collecting his forces. On the 6th of April, 1538, a desperate engagement took place near Cuzco, in which A. was defeated and taken prisoner. He was condemned to death ; and on the 26th of the same month, he was strangled in prison, and his corpse beheaded in the market-place of Cuzco. His son, Diego d'A., gathering together several hundreds of his father's followers, stormed the palace of Pizarro, whom he assassinated (1541); he then proclaimed himself capt.-geu. of Peru ; but the friends of the murdered governor resisting his claims, Baca de Castro was sent out from Spain, as supreme arbiter, to quell all disturbances. Diego was now requested to submit ; and on his refusing, was attacked by the troops of Baca, when the bloodiest battle took place that had ever been known in America (1542). Diego, having been defeated and taken prisoner, was executed along with 40 of his companions.