Conquest of the Tahuantinsuyo or Inca Empire

The conquest of the Tahuantinsuyo or Inca Empire begins with the arrival of Francisco Pizarro and his hosts to the Tahuantinsuyo in 1532 marked the beginning of a great transformation in the ways of life of the inhabitants of the Andes.

NEWS FROM PERU

With the discovery of the Pacific Ocean in 1513, the news spread of the existence of rich lands to the south, where gold abounded. It is said that the information was told by Panquiaco, son of the cacique Comagre. The rumors that ran were that the Viru had splendid lands ruled by powerful men. The legend of gold was present in the Spanish expeditions of the time. Thus, in the exploration of the Gulf of San Miguel, carried out by Captain Francisco Becerra, something similar was heard, and the same happened to Pascual de Andagoya when he tried to advance in the exploration to the south to find the coveted kingdom of gold. These legends were incorporated into the imagination of the conquerors, as is the almost Francisco Pizarro.

THE PARTNERS OF THE CONQUEST

In Panama a large number of Spaniards had been concentrated, among them Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro. Ready to start a new exploration, they associated with the clergyman Hernando de Luque, figurehead of Gaspar de Espinoza, important banker of Panama, who financially supported the new conquering company. With the authorization of the governor of Panama, Pedro Arias Dávila, Pizarro and his associates set out on the adventure and to seek or booty that was shared among the investors of the expedition. Pizarro directed the company, Almagro would take charge of the formation of the troops taking care of their supply and Luque assumed the spiritual direction of the new territories.

TRAVEL TO THE TAHUANTINSUYO

THE FIRST TRIP (1525-1525)

They sailed along the coast and came to unknown places that they named Puerto Piñas and Puerto del Hambre. Further south, they found a village where they were attacked by the natives. That is why they set fire to the town, which they called Pueblo Quemado as of that moment.

THE SECOND JOURNEY (1526-1527)

After arriving at the height of the San Juan River, Almagro returned to Panama and Pizarro continued south. Before the complaint of the soldiers, who had gone to the new governor Pedro de los Ríos, he sent Captain Juan Tafur with the order to make them return. Tafur found them on Isla del Gallo, the place where the famous episode took place where Pizarro asked his men if they wanted to "return to Panama to be poor", without fame or money, or "continue to Peru to be rich". Only thirteen decided to continue and the others boarded back to Panama. The thirteen and Pizarro waited half a year for the arrival of supplies and men. Finally, Bartolomé Ruiz arrived with provisions and the Governor's order that they all return. Before fulfilling the order, Pizarro and his men sailed the coast and reached Tumbes. There they were received by the natives, who offered them chicha, fruit, corn and other foods. It was a habitual way of establishing relations of the Andean peoples.

Surprised with the constructions and dresses of natives, they decided to return to ask for the authorization to conquer the found lands. The newcomers to Panama boasted of the wonders seen with their own eyes. However, Pizarro traveled to Spain to be empowered by King Carlos I, carrying with him captive tumbesinos, camelids, ceramics and other objects. The Spanish Crown signed the Capitulation of Toledo in 1529, a document that authorized them to carry out their business.

THIRD TRAVEL

Pizarro recruited people before starting his new trip, including several of his relatives, whom I look for in his homeland. In 1531, when they left Panama, almost two hundred men went to conquer the empire. They arrived at the island of La Puná, where after a peaceful stay of several days, the islanders attacked by not receiving reciprocal samples. The force turned the Spaniards into victors, who would later arrive in Tumbes, where they learned that a succession war between Huascar and Atahualpa had ended with the triumph of the second.

THE CAPTURE OF THE INCA

After founding the first Spanish city, San Miguel de Tangarará, on the banks of the Chira River in Piura, the conquistadores began their ascent to Cajamarca. Pizarro ordered that the host settle in the city and sent Hernando de Soto and then Hernando Pizarro to visit the Inca to his camp with the objective of inviting him to an interview.

THE TAKE OF CAJAMARCA

In Cajamarca, first Hernando de Soto and then Hernando Pizarro visited the Inca, who offered them chicha and claimed they had taken things that did not belong to him along his route. The Spaniards showed gestures of friendship that led Atahualpa to accept the interview with Pizarro. On the day of the meeting the Spaniards awaited the arrival of the Inca ready to fight. Atahualpa arrived accompanied by a large entourage of warriors, priests, servants, dancers, musicians and allied curacas. Upon entering the square, Fray Vicente de Valverde came to meet him, who had been entrusted with reading the "requirement", while Felipillo translated the Inca. Not understanding the complex situation, the Inca threw the Bible that the priest had given him. Immediately the Spaniards attacked the natives, which caused a great confusion, the Inca fell from his litter and was taken prisoner.

DEATH OF ATAHUALPA

Atahualpa offered to give gold and silver to establish an alliance that was understood by the Spaniards as a Western-style ransom. However, the fear of an uprising and conquering desire led to the decision to execute the Inca on July 26, 1533. Formally, they justified the death by accusing Atahualpa of plotting an attack and the murder of his brother Huáscar.

Spanish chroniclers say that he was executed in the garrotte (hanged with a rope); On the other hand, the chronicler Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala illustrates the fact as a beheading. Then, the Spaniards went to the sacred city of Cuzco where they arrived on November 15, 1533.