Editing Diego de Almagro (section)

== Return to Peru ==
[[File:Diego-de-Almagro.png|thumb|right|Capture and execution of Diego de Almagro in [[Cusco]]. Engraving, circa 1600]]
After the exhausting crossing of the [[Atacama Desert]], mainly due to the harsh weather conditions, Almagro finally reached Cuzco, Peru, in 1537.<ref name=Prescott/>{{rp|254}} According to some authors, it was during this time that the Spanish term ''"[[roto]]"'' (torn), used by Peruvians to refer to Chileans, was first coined. De Almagro's disappointed troops returned to Cuzco with their "torn clothes" due to the extensive and laborious passage on foot by the Atacama Desert.

After his return, De Almagro was surprised to learn of the Inca [[Manco Inca Yupanqui|Manco]]'s rebellion. Diego de Almagro sent an embassy to the Inca, but they mistrusted all of the Spaniards by this time. [[Hernando Pizarro]]'s men formed an uneasy truce with De Almagro's men, surveying to determine the boundaries of their leaders' royal grants. They needed to determine in which portion the city of Cuzco was located. However, De Almagro's troops quickly took the city and imprisoned the [[Pizarro brothers]], Hernando and Gonzalo, on the night of 8 April 1537.<ref name=Prescott/>{{rp|254–256}}

After occupying Cuzco, De Almagro confronted an army sent by Francisco Pizarro to liberate his brothers. [[Alonso de Alvarado]] commanded it and was defeated during the [[Battle of Abancay]] on July 12, 1537.<ref name=Prescott/>{{rp|257}} He and some of his men were imprisoned. Later, Gonzalo Pizarro and De Alvarado escaped prison. Subsequent negotiations between Francisco Pizarro and De Almagro concluded with the liberation of Hernando, the third Pizarro brother, in return for conceding control and administration of Cuzco to De Almagro. Pizarro never intended to give up the city permanently, but was buying time to organize an army strong enough to defeat Almagro's troops.<ref name=Prescott/>{{rp|260–262}}<ref name="Andagoya">{{cite web |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Narrative_of_the_Proceedings_of_Pedrarias_Davila/Narrative_of_Pascual_de_Andagoya|title=Narrative of the Proceedings of Pedrarias Davila|first=Pascual de|last=Andagoya|year=1865|publisher=The Hakluyt Society|place=London|accessdate=21 June 2019 |via=Wikisource}}</ref>{{rp|p=54}}

During this time De Almagro fell ill, and Pizarro and his brothers grabbed the opportunity to defeat him and his followers. The Almagristas were defeated at [[Battle of Las Salinas|Las Salinas]] in April 1538, with Orgóñez being killed on the field of battle. De Almagro fled to Cuzco, still in the hands of his loyal supporters, but found only temporary refuge; the forces of the Pizarro brothers entered the city without resistance. Once captured, Almagro was humiliated by Hernando Pizarro and his requests to appeal to the King were ignored.

When Diego de Almagro begged for his life, Hernando responded:<ref name=Prescott/>{{rp|262–268}}

<blockquote>"-he was surprised to see Almagro demean himself in a manner so unbecoming a brave cavalier, that his fate was no worse than had befallen many a soldier before him; and that, since God had given him the grace to be a Christian, he should employ his remaining moments in making up his account with Heaven!"</blockquote>

Almagro was condemned to death and executed by ''[[garrote]]'' in his dungeon, and then decapitated, on July 8, 1538. His corpse was taken to the public [[Plaza de Armas (Cusco)|Plaza Mayor of Cuzco]], where a herald proclaimed his crimes. [[Hernán Ponce de León]] took his body and buried him in the church of Our Lady of Mercy in Cuzco.<ref name=Prescott/>{{rp|269}}