MALDONADO, Diego (mal-do-nah'-do), Spanish adventurer, born in Salamanca, Spain, toward the end of the 15th century; died in Cuzco, Peru, in 1564. He came to Peru with Francisco Pizarro, and participated in the capture of the emperor Atahualpa, receiving a large share of the silver and gold that the latter gave for his ransom. In 1534 he was appointed alderman of Cuzco. In 1537 he was induced by the other members of the common council to sign an act declaring Almagro to be governor of the southern part of Peru; but the latter, knowing Maldonado to be his enemy, put him in prison, where he remained till Almagro's execution in 1538. After the assassination of Pizarro and the usurpation of the younger Almagro, Maldonado fled to Panama, and, returning with the governor Vaca de Castro, went to Cuzco and persuaded Holguin, who resisted Almagro, to join the governor. When Gonzalo Pizarro revolted in 1544, Maldonado retired to Andahuaylas, resolving to remain neutral, but Pizarro forced him to accept the place of chief justice. He soon declared for the viceroy Vela, but when the latter was defeated and killed in AiSaquito, in 1546, Maldonado was pardoned by Pizarro. He was closely watched, however, and, fearing for his life, fled and joined the army of the new president, De la Gas-ca. After the defeat of Pizarro in Sacsahuana in 1548, he retired to Cuzco till the revolution of Godinez, against whom he did good service. He lived afterward at Cuzco, enjoying his wealth, and in 1556 founded a hospital for the Indians in that city. His estate is still in the possession of his family, he was buried in the cathedral of Cuzco.