The Almagrist victory over Alvarado's relief force prolonged the conflict between Pizarro and Almagro factions during the Spanish conquest of Peru.
Key Facts
- Date
- 12 July 1537
- Alvarado's force size
- 500 men
- Key defector
- Pedro de Lerma deserted command of the ford
- Outcome
- Alvarado's force captured almost intact by Almagro
- Follow-up battle
- Battle of Las Salinas, April 1538
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Diego de Almagro had seized Cusco after rescuing Hernando and Gonzalo Pizarro from near-defeat, then imprisoned them. Francisco Pizarro, unable to break the siege alone and having lost a younger brother, assembled a relief army of Spanish settlers bound for New Castile and sent it under Alonso de Alvarado to relieve Cusco.
Alvarado camped at Jauja with five hundred men, guarding the bridge and a ford on the Río de Abancay. The soldier he placed in command of the ford, Pedro de Lerma, deserted to Almagro's side, allowing Almagrist forces to cross uncontested and capture Alvarado's expedition almost without resistance. Alvarado himself was taken prisoner during the engagement.
Alvarado was captured but later escaped with Gonzalo Pizarro when Almagro departed with Hernando Pizarro under guard. Hernando was released on the condition he return to Spain within six weeks. Instead, the Pizarro brothers and Alvarado raised a new army and confronted Almagro again at the Battle of Las Salinas in April 1538, ultimately defeating him.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Alonso de Alvarado.
Side B
1 belligerent
Diego de Almagro.