1532

1532 is a year in the early modern period noted for both European expansion abroad and ongoing political and religious developments in Europe. It sits within the broader Age of Exploration, during which various European powers established and extended colonial networks, often through military conquest and alliance-building. The year is especially remembered for a decisive moment in the Spanish conquest of the Americas.

The most prominent event of 1532 occurred in Peru, where Francisco Pizarro and his expedition encountered the Inca Empire. On a night in Cajamarca in November, Pizarro’s forces captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa. The event destabilized the Inca state and opened the door for rapid Spanish incursions into the highlands and beyond, ultimately contributing to the collapse of Inca authority and the establishment of colonial administration in a large portion of western South America. Atahualpa was executed in 1533, a turning point that followed his capture in 1532, though the broader conquest extended over several subsequent years.

In Europe, the year continued to reflect the era’s political and religious tensions. The rivalry between Francis I of France and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, persisted, shaping military campaigns and diplomacy. The broader Reformation and counter-Reformation dynamics were influencing state decisions, alliances, and church relations across the continent.

Outside the Americas, European powers continued to expand trade networks and influence in Africa, Asia, and the Mediterranean. The year thus illustrates the interconnected pattern of exploration, military action, and religious transformation that defined much of the 1530s, setting the stage for enduring changes in global power, economy, and culture.