[2] Starting in 1532 and succeeding in 1533, Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire and claimed what we know today as Peru for Spain.

[5]: 25  In 1533 Hernando was sent back to Spain with the royal fifth for the Emperor, which consisted of "a number of the most beautiful articles" collected for Atahuallpa's ransom.

[1]: 230 When he returned to Peru he ruled with his other half-brothers (Juan and Gonzalo Pizarro) over the prized Inca capital of Cuzco.

After Diego de Almagro returned from Chile from a fruitless gold-seeking expedition, he found that Hernando and his brothers were in control of Cuzco.

However, as he had not obtained any credit for having been Francisco Pizarro's main partner in discovering Peru, he decided to claim Cuzco as part of his share.

In the ensuing Battle of Las Salinas, the Pizarros won a decisive victory, capturing Almagro and the city.

Their perceived treachery was too great, however, and despite Hernando's bribery, he was imprisoned for the next twenty years,[7]: 336–338  from June 1541 until May 1561, in the Castle of La Mota.