A few years later, in 1519, the city of old Panama was founded. Balboa was the best type of the Spanish conquistador. He was brave, hardy and determined, qualities very common to the early Spanish adventurers, but Balboa was more able and had much broader views of government and colonization than either Pizarro or Cortez. He was displaced as governor of Panama by Pedrarias, a man inferior to him in every respect. Balboa was beheaded by Pedrarias in 1517. He had heard of the Inca empire to the south, and was getting together a fleet on the south coast with the intention of invading this empire. Pedrarias became jealous of his power, and feared he was getting together a force for the purpose of overthrowing his government. As far as historical data show, there was no reason for this jealousy. Tradition has it that the cause of the enmity between Balboa and Pedrarias was due to the fact that Balboa, being betrothed to the daughter of Pedrarias, became involved in an affair with the daughter of an Indian chief while absent on the south coast building the fleet with which he hoped to conquer the Inca empire. Pedrarias’ daughter, hearing rumors of this affair, became very jealous, and influenced her father’s mind against Balboa, even to the extent of having him beheaded. This is, however, probably pure romance. The facts seem to be that Pedrarias, being a narrow-minded man and jealous in disposition, gradually became hostile to Balboa on account of the latter’s popularity with the Spanish colonists, as well as with the Indians. Balboa, for a conquistador, was humane in his attitude toward the Indians. For this reason Pedrarias began to make charges against and quarrel with Balboa. Pedrarias, being governor, had absolute power in the Province of Panama, and Balboa, to be successful in fitting out his expedition, knew that he had to have the support of Pedrarias. In his endeavor to placate him and insure his support, Balboa married Pedrarias’ daughter, a child of six years of age. The marriage ceremony was performed by proxy, Pedrarias’ daughter being absent in Spain. Balboa never saw his wife. Pizarro was one of the lieutenants of Balboa, though as an officer of Pedrarias’ government he was actually in charge of the party that arrested Balboa. Balboa’s death was a great loss to Spain and to Panama. He would in all probability have made a much more humane conqueror of Peru than did Pizarro, and certainly would have made a much abler ruler of that country. He was beheaded at Acla, the capital of Panama at that time, situated on the north coast on Caledonia Bay. All trace of this town has now disappeared.