He participated with Francisco Pizarro in the Spanish conquest of Peru. Back in Peru a longstanding conflict with Pizarro over the control of the former Inca capital of Cuzco erupted into a civil war between the two bands of conquistadores.
In the battle of Las Salinas in Almagro was defeated by the Pizarro brothers and months later he was executed. The origins of Diego de Almagro remain obscure. He went to the home of his mother, who was now living with her new husband, to tell her what had happened and that he was going to travel the world, asking for some bread to help her live in her misery.
His mother, anguished, gave him a piece of bread and some coins and said: "Take, son, and do not give me more pressure, and go, and God help in your adventure.
He went to Seville and after probably stealing to survive the boy becomes a "criado" or servant and raised by Don Luis de Polanco , one of the four mayors of the Catholic Monarchs and later his counselor, and who was mayor of that city. While performing his duties as a servant, Almagro stabbed another servant for certain differences, leaving him with injuries so serious that they motivated that a trial against him be promoted.
Being wanted for justice, Don Luis de Polanco, making use of his influence, got Don Pedro Arias de Avila to allow him to embark in one of the ships that would go to the New World from the port of Sanlucar de Barrameda.
