Castro Vacade

Castro, Vaca de, born at Leon in Spain early in the sixteenth century, became judge at Valladolid, and in 1540 was sent by Charles V. to take over the governorship of Peru, then a prey to the factious movements of Pizarro and Almagro. On his arrival he found that the former had been assassinated by the latter, whom he defeated and beheaded in 1542. He then set about improving the condition of the native population, and was at once therefore looked upon with suspicion by his countrymen. Recalled in 1544, he spent a long period in prison, dying in 1558.