Bartolomé Ruiz
Who was Bartolomé Ruiz?
Spanish conquistador (1482-1532)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Bartolomé Ruiz (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Bartolomé Ruiz, born around 1482 in Moguer, Spain, was a Spanish conquistador and navigator who played a key role in exploring South America's Pacific coast, which helped lead to the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. He is best known as the first European to cross the equator in the Pacific Ocean and the first to land on what is now Ecuador. These achievements made him one of the most important explorers of the early sixteenth century.
Before Fame
Ruiz was born in Moguer, a port town in Huelva, southwestern Spain, known for its maritime tradition. This town had provided sailors for Christopher Columbus's first voyage in 1492. Ruiz started his seafaring career serving Columbus as a pilot. This early experience navigating the Atlantic gave him the skills and reputation that made him crucial to Francisco Pizarro's expeditions along South America's western coast.
Key Achievements
- First European to cross the equator in the Pacific Ocean during his 1526 reconnaissance voyage.
- First European to land on and begin exploration of what is now Ecuador.
- Member of the Famous Thirteen, the group who remained loyal to Pizarro at Isla del Gallo and made the conquest of Peru possible.
- Served as chief pilot on Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro's expeditions along the Pacific coast of South America.
- Encountered an Inca trading raft in 1526, providing early intelligence about the wealth and sophistication of the Inca Empire.
Did You Know?
- 01.Ruiz was a native of Moguer, the same Andalusian port town that supplied several sailors for Columbus's first voyage in 1492.
- 02.During his 1526 reconnaissance voyage, Ruiz encountered a large balsa wood trading raft off the coast of what is now Ecuador, carrying textiles, gold, silver, and emeralds — providing early evidence of the wealth of Inca civilization.
- 03.Ruiz is recognized as the first European navigator to cross the equator while sailing in the Pacific Ocean.
- 04.He was one of the Famous Thirteen, the small group of men who refused to abandon Pizarro at Isla del Gallo in 1527 and continued south, a decision that made the conquest of Peru possible.
- 05.Ruiz died around 1532 in Cajamarca, Peru, the same city where the Inca emperor Atahualpa was captured by Pizarro — one of the defining moments of the Spanish conquest.