The Battle (Massacre) of Cajamarca, 1532. Spanish Crush the Inca, Securing Power in the Wealthiest Region of South America.

History's Greatest Battles

The brutal massacre of the Incan warriors and the capture of their god-king cemented Spanish dominance over Peru, the richest prize in South America, a land dripping with gold and silver, now firmly under Spanish control.
Cajamarca. November 16, 1532.
Incan Forces: ~ 6,000 Warriors.
Spanish Forces: ~ 100 Infantry and 67 Cavalry.
Additional Reading and Research:

• Innes, Hammond. The Conquistadors.
• Means, Phillip. The Fall of the Inca Empire and the Spanish Rule in Peru, 1530 - 1780.
• Richman, Irving. Adventurers of New Spain: The Spanish Conquerors.
• Cieza de Leon, Pedro de. The Incas.

Some Historical Notes:

1. Atahualpa’s Alleged Massacre of His Brothers: While Spanish sources, particularly chroniclers like Pedro Cieza de León and Francisco de Jerez, assert that Atahualpa killed many of his brothers, the exact scale of this massacre is debated. The true number is uncertain, and Incan sources are silent or conflicting.
2. Huascar’s Death: It's true that Atahualpa ordered Huascar's execution during his imprisonment, likely after hearing about the Spanish. The exact timing of Huascar’s death relative to the Spanish capture of Atahualpa varies in different accounts.
3. The Capture of Atahualpa and the Battle at Cajamarca: The massacre at Cajamarca wasn’t a full-scale “battle” by most military definitions. As I said, it was more of a calculated ambush where the Incas were taken completely by surprise. Atahualpa had come unarmed, believing the meeting to be diplomatic in nature.
4. The Ransom and Atahualpa’s Execution: Atahualpa did indeed offer to fill a room with gold and silver as his ransom, and the Spanish accepted this offer. The room, known as the “Ransom Room,” was filled with vast quantities of gold and silver. Pizarro and his men feared that releasing Atahualpa would allow him to regroup and lead an uprising. Hence, the execution.
5. Pizarro’s Governance and Rivalry with Almagro: Pizarro’s conflict with Diego de Almagro over the control of Cuzco is an essential aspect of post-conquest Spanish infighting. The territory division between Pizarro and Almagro, ordered by the Spanish Crown, created significant tensions, as both wanted control over Cuzco. It’s worth pointing out that Almagro’s son, Diego de Almagro II, led the faction that assassinated Pizarro in 1541, not necessarily Almagro’s original followers.
6. Pizarro’s Assassination: Pizzaro's death was part of the long-standing feud with the Almagristas (followers of Diego de Almagro), led by Almagro’s son. They stormed Pizarro’s palace in Lima, where he was killed. This event is well-documented and is a pivotal moment in the consolidation of Spanish authority in Peru.
7. The Spanish Governor and Imperial Administration: Following Pizarro's assassination, Spain moved quickly to stabilize the region by appointing a royal governor. Viceroy Blasco Núñez Vela was the first royal official sent to Peru by the Spanish Crown to establish direct governance, ensuring control over the vast wealth of the region.
8. Comparison to the Aztec Conquest: The comparison to the Aztec conquest under Cortés is valid, particularly in how both civilizations saw their wealth extracted, their leadership dismantled, and their cultures suppressed. It’s important to note that the Inca resistance continued for years after Atahualpa’s death. The final remnants of the Inca state held out in the Vilcabamba region until 1572, when the last Inca ruler, Túpac Amaru, was executed by the Spanish.

[!] Subscribe and Share.
www.HistorysGreatestBattles.com

Did we get something wrong/right? Send us a text message!