Verdadera relación de la conquista del Perú

What it is

This written account, first published in 1534, tells the story of Francisco Pizarro's expedition to Peru, the march to Cajamarca, and the capture of the Inca emperor Atahualpa. The edition shown here is an 1891 reprint of the original text.

Why it matters

Written close to the events by someone connected to Pizarro's expedition, it is one of the earliest and most detailed Spanish accounts of the conquest. It reveals how the Spanish themselves justified and recorded the conquest, including Pizarro's career before Peru and the royal service he claimed to be performing.

Look closer

• Who wrote this account, and why might their closeness to Pizarro shape what they chose to include?
• What does the text's focus on service to the Spanish crown tell you about its purpose?
• What might be missing from a Spanish-authored account of this encounter?