Civil
War
In the mid-1500's CE, an Inca ruler died
without first choosing an heir. This created an enormous problem.
Two of his sons both wanted to be the next Sapa Inca. They were both
qualified. One brother crowned himself Inca. But the other brother
did not accept his rule. Civil war broke out in the Inca Empire. For
five years, the brothers and their armies fought each other for the
right to become the next Sapa Inca. Atahualpa finally won the war.
Spanish
Arrival - Francisco Pizarro
It was not long after this that the Spanish
first arrived. The Spanish had heard about the fabled cities of gold
from the conquered people who lived along fertile strips in the
Coastal Desert. The Incas had little contact anyway with the Mayas
and Aztecs, but war had kept them busy. They knew nothing about the
Spanish conquest of other tribes in Mexico, to the north. To them,
the Spanish were simply invaders. At any other time, the Inca
probably would have ordered the immediate death of Francisco Pizarro
and his band of 167 men.
Unfortunately for the Incas, their new Sapa
Inca, Atahualpa,
flush with triumph, decided to allow the Spanish intruders safe
passage. His plan was to kill some of the intruders and to keep
others as slaves. Basically, he was amusing himself.
Once Pizarro left the Coastal Desert and
entered the Inca Empire in the Andes Mountains, Pizarro knew right
away that he was in trouble. The Incas were organized, militant, and
numerous. Pizarro and his band of 167 men spent a nervous night,
waiting for the arrival of the Sapa Inca, who was coming the next
morning to officially greet them. They worked up a plan. Their plan
was to kidnap the Sapa Inca, Atahualpa. The Spanish probably had
little hope of success.
When Atahualpa visited them the next morning,
he brought with him a small group of about 2000 priests and
attendants. None were armed. He wore an emerald necklace. He was
carried on his golden litter - the whole song and dance. It never
occurred to him that the intruders might be a problem.
When Pizarro's men leaped from their hiding
places, they grabbed the Sapa Inca. The priests and attendants did
not know what to do. The Spanish killed most of them.
Once Atahualpa understood that the Spanish
intruders wanted gold and silver - that's why they had come - they
had heard about the fabulous Incan cities of gold - Atahualpa
offered them a huge ransom for his safe release. He offered a room
22 feet long filled with gold and silver. The intruders could take
the gold and silver and leave freely. Atahualpa kept his word. The
Spanish did not. Once the gold was delivered, they killed the Sapa
Inca and fled with as much gold as they could carry.
When they returned, they brought an army with
them. It took the Spanish a few years to completely defeat all
regions in the Empire. The Spanish took over as the harsh rulers of
the Incan people.
|
