Inca Civil War and Spanish conquest Inca Empire

inca expansion (1438–1533)



atahualpa, last sapa inca of empire, executed spanish on 29 august 1533

spanish conquistadors led francisco pizarro , brothers explored south today panama, reaching inca territory 1526. clear had reached wealthy land prospects of great treasure, , after expedition in 1529 pizarro traveled spain , received royal approval conquer region , viceroy. approval received detailed in following quote: in july 1529 queen of spain signed charter allowing pizarro conquer incas. pizarro named governor , captain of conquests in peru, or new castile, spanish called land.

when returned peru in 1532, war of brothers between sons of huayna capac, huáscar , atahualpa, , unrest among newly conquered territories weakened empire. perhaps more importantly, smallpox had spread central america. pizarro did not have formidable force. 168 men, 1 cannon, , 27 horses, talked way out of potential confrontations have wiped out party.

the spanish horsemen, armored, had technological superiority on inca forces. traditional mode of battle in andes kind of siege warfare large numbers of reluctant draftees sent overwhelm opponents. spaniards developed 1 of finest military machines in premodern world, tactics learned in centuries-long fight against moorish kingdoms in iberia. along tactical , material superiority, spaniards acquired tens of thousands of native allies sought end inca control of territories.

their first engagement battle of puná, near present-day guayaquil, ecuador, on pacific coast; pizarro founded city of piura in july 1532. hernando de soto sent inland explore interior , returned invitation meet inca, atahualpa, had defeated brother in civil war , resting @ cajamarca army of 80,000 troops.

pizarro , of men, notably friar named vincente de valverde, met inca, had brought small retinue. through interpreter friar vincente read requerimiento demanded , empire accept rule of king charles of spain , convert christianity. because of language barrier , perhaps poor interpretation, atahualpa became puzzled friar s description of christian faith , said have not understood envoy s intentions. after atahualpa attempted further enquiry doctrines of christian faith, spanish became frustrated , impatient. attacked inca s retinue , captured atahualpa hostage.

atahualpa offered spaniards enough gold fill room imprisoned in , twice amount of silver. inca fulfilled ransom, pizarro deceived them, refusing release inca afterwards. during atahualpa s imprisonment huáscar assassinated elsewhere. spaniards maintained @ atahualpa s orders; used 1 of charges against atahualpa when spaniards executed him, in august 1533.