Sebastián de Belalcázar

Sebastián de Belalcázar
Statue of Sebastián de Belalcázar in Quito, Ecuador
Born1490
Died(1551-04-28)April 28, 1551
NationalitySpanish
Other namesSebastián de Benalcázar
Sebastián Moyano y Cabrera
OccupationConquistador
Known forSpanish conquest of the Inca Empire
Conquest of the Muisca
Founder of Cali
Founder of Pasto
Founder of Popayán

Sebastián Moyano y Cabrera, best known as Sebastián de Belalcázar (Spanish pronunciation: [seβasˈtjan de βelalˈkaθaɾ]; c. 1490 – April 28, 1551) was a Spanish conquistador. Belalcázar, also written as Benalcázar. He is known as the founder of important early virreinal cities in the northwestern part of South America; Quito in 1534 and Cali, Pasto and Popayán in 1537. Belalcázar led expeditions in present-day Ecuador and Colombia and died of natural causes after being sentenced to death in the port of Cartagena de Indias in 1551.