Spanish Conquistador Founded Lima, Peru in 1535

Today in Latin American history, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro founded Lima, the capital of Peru in 1535.

After taking the Incan capital Cusco, Francisco Pizarro began looking for a suitable place to establish “his” city.

The location offered an easy access to coastal fishing grounds, a good infrastructure and it was close to the natural harbor.

Known as the “City of Kings” or simply “Lima”, when the city was founded it was still home to an estimated 150,000 indigenous people in a region.

Other events that occurred on this day:

Today in LatAm history, the English Pirate Henry Morgan captured Panama in 1670

Today in LatAm history, Nicaraguan Journalist & poet Rubén Darío who is known as the “Father of Modernism” was born in 1867

Today in LatAm history, Peruvian novelist José María Arguedas who was also a poet & an anthropologist was born in 1911

Today in LatAm history, Chilean footballer Iván Zamorano who played for the National team & Real Madrid was born in 1967