1561day.year
Lope de Aguirre
(1510 - 1561)
Spanish explorer
Spanish explorer
Spanish conquistador and explorer infamous for his mutiny and quest for El Dorado along the Amazon.
Lope de Aguirre (1510–1561) joined Francisco Pizarro’s conquest of Peru before embarking on his own expedition.
In 1560, he led a disgruntled band of soldiers down the Amazon River in search of mythical riches.
Aguirre declared himself 'Prince of Peru', incited rebellion against the Spanish crown, and became known as 'Wrath of God'.
His voyage was marked by brutality, mutiny, and paranoia, culminating in his assassination by his own men.
Aguirre's tale inspired later literature and film as a symbol of ambition and madness in the age of exploration.
1561
Lope de Aguirre