Inca Civil War - Atahualpa, Pizarro and The End of The Spanish Conquest of Tahuantinsuyo

Atahualpa, Pizarro and The End of The Spanish Conquest of Tahuantinsuyo

Atahualpa was saluted as a hero; when recapturing Cajamarca, making his camp outside the city with some 40,000 troops (See Atahualpa) while Chalkuchimac and Quizquiz chased Huáscar’s army to the south. With a disastrous northern campaign, Huáscar had lost not only his best generals and many of his soldiers, but he also took command for the first time over his shocked and demoralized army. Huascar and Atahualpa’s armies met and each tried to gain advantage over the other. Huáscar, after finding himself in a dominant position, refused to make use of it, preferring instead to opt for a safe retreat, crossing the Cotabambas River on the way to Cuzco.

Chalkuchimac had a plan of his own and predicted the action of Topa Atao, and divided his army in two, sending one contingent around Topa Atao’s back, enveloping and destroying the defenders. In January 1532, only miles from Cuzco, Huáscar’s retreat was cut off at Quipaipan, and his army was annihilated and disbanded. Huáscar was captured and the capital Cuzco was seized by Quizquiz, who had it purged from Huáscar’s supporters in a bloody massacre. Huáscar himself was executed the following year.

Throughout the course of the war, Atahualpa’s army had risen to a strength of 250,000 men, all the strength of the Empire. However, before he had the chance to leave Cajamarca, the new Inca met up with conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who had reached the city on 16 November, and was captured by the Spaniards in the ensuing Battle of Cajamarca.