The mighty Inca Empire took centuries to build and stretched from Chile to Colombia. It was one of the richest and most powerful in the world. But in 1533, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro destroyed and looted it, sending tons of gold and silver back to Spain.
1. Atahualpa, Last Great King of the Inca
Public Domain Image
In late 1532, Atahualpa, lord of the Inca Empire, must have been feeling good. His forces had just captured his brother Huascar, with whom Atahualpa had been fighting a long civil war. After years of strife, the Empire was his. Little did he know that from the west was approaching a far greater threat than his brother ever could be: 170 Spanish conquistadors under the command of Francisco Pizarro.
2. Huascar, Defeated Inca Lord
Public Domain Image
Atahualpa's brother Huascar had been lord of the Inca since 1527, when their father died. Huascar fought Atahualpa and lost: but at least he did not have to endure the horrors of the Spanish conquest.
3. The Inca Civil War
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From 1527 to 1532, brothers Huascar and Atahualpa fought each other for control of the mighty Inca Empire. Huascar held Cuzco, the rich capital, while Atahualpa held Quito, the second-largest city, and he also had the support of the best generals and most of the army. For years they fought, weakening their empire. When the Spanish showed up just as Atahualpa was savoring his victory, the Inca were poorly equipped to resist them.
4. The Battle of Teocajas
Diego Rivera
In May of 1534, Inca General Rumiñahui was trying to halt the Spanish advance towards Quito. He had a massive army of some 50,000 warriors and he marched to the highlands outside of Tomebambe to intercept Sebastian de Benalcazar and his force of some 200 Spaniards and 3,000 Indian allies. They met in early May. Who would win this epic battle?
5. Tupac Amaru, Last of the Inca
Public Domain Image
Túpac Amaru was the last of the royal family of the Inca Empire to ever actually rule his people. After the Spanish invasion of the Andes, many of his family members were killed, including his uncles Atahuallpa and Huáscar. By 1570 only a small, remote outpost remained of Inca rule, in the Peruvian jungles of Vilcabamba. Túpac Amaru presided over a brief rebellion against the Spanish, which was crushed in 1571-1572. Túpac Amaru was executed, and with him died any realistic hope of a return to Inca rule in the Andes.
6. Arms and Armor of the Spanish Conquistadors
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The Spanish owed much of their success against the Inca and other New World peoples because of their great advantage in weapons and armor.
