Núñez, while honest, loyal and courageous, is…
September 1544 CE
Núñez, while honest, loyal and courageous, is also very hot headed.
The resistance has aggravated his distrust and increased the severity of his measures.
After imprisoning his predecessor Vaca de Castro, he has him sent to Spain.
Núñez, in a late night interview in the viceroy's palace on September 13, 1544, accuses Juan Suárez de Carbajal of treason.
The exchange becomes heated, and Núñez kills Suárez with a dagger.
The death of Suárez leads the Audiencia to break with the viceroy.
Believing they can rely on help from Gonzalo Pizarro, they determine to remove Núñez from office and send him back to Spain.
(Pizarro and Francisco de Carvajal have already raised a small army in opposition to the viceroy.)
On September 18, they depose him and order his imprisonment.
The viceroy is sent a prisoner to the island of San Lorenzo to be handed over to oidor Álvarez.
In Álvarez's custody, Núñez leaves San Lorenzo for Panama on September 24.
Just out of port, Álvarez tells the viceroy he is now free, and turns over command of the ship to him.