Editing Francisco de Orellana (section)

==Background==
[[File:Francisco-orellana.png|thumb|left|Francisco de Orellana portrait]]

Born in [[Trujillo, Caceres|Trujillo]] in western Spain (various birth dates, ranging from 1490 to 1511, are still quoted by biographers), Orellana was a close friend and possibly a relative of [[Francisco Pizarro]], the Trujillo-born conquistador of Peru (his cousin, according to some historians). He traveled to the New World (probably in 1527). Orellana served in Nicaragua until joining Pizarro's army in Peru in 1533, where he supported Pizarro in his conflict with [[Diego de Almagro]] (1538). After the victory over De Almagro's men, he was appointed governor of La Culata. He re-established the town of Guayaquil, previously founded by Pizarro and repopulated by [[Sebastián de Belalcázar]]. During the civil war, he sided with the Pizarros and was Ensign General of a force sent by Francisco Pizarro from Lima to aid [[Hernando Pizarro]]. He was granted land at Puerto Viejo, on the coast of Ecuador.