The+Battle+of+Cajamarca

The Battle of Cajamarca

In 1532 the population was decreased and the loyalties were divided because of civil war. The youngest son of the former ruler, Huayna Capac, had just removed his half brother Huascar from office. He was trying to reunite his kingdom when Pizarro arrived in 1531. Meanwhile, Spain’s King Charles V was on his way to the Incan capital. Still loyal to Huascar, Pizarro learned of the war and started recruiting soldiers. Atahualpa met Pizarro just outside Cajamarca. Pizarro invited Atahualpa back into Cajamarca for a feast in honor of Atahualpa's rise to the throne. Atahualpa decided to come to the feast with 5000 unarmed soldiers. He was met by Vicente De Valverde. While Pizarro’s men are awaiting Atahualpa. De Valverde tried to convince Atahualpa to accept King Charles V. as the supreme ruler. Angrily Atahualpa refused, so De Valverde gave Pizarro the signal to open fire. Trapped in a tight space, the Incan soldiers were an easy target for the Spanish. Pizarro killed all 5000 Inca soldiers in just an hour. The only Spanish injury was to Pizarro, a cut on his hand caused by his successful attempt to save Atahualpa from death. Quickly realizing that Atahualpa was more valuable alive. Pizarro kept Atahualpa in captivity while he made his plans to take over his empire. In return Atahualpa refused to his captors greed, offering them a room full of gold and silver in exchange for his freedom. Pizarro agreed, but after receiving the ransom Pizarro charged Atahualpa with stirring up rebellion. By that time, Atahualpa had taken part in pacifying the Incas while Pizarro secured his power. Pizarro considered Atahualpa expendable. Atahualpa was set to be burned at the stake, the Spanish to be this to be a fitting way to die for Atahualpa but at the last second, De Valverde offered the Emperor mercy if he would convert. Atahualpa agreed to convert, only to be executed by strangulation on August 29th 1533. The Spanish and the Incas would continue fighting well after Atahualpa’s death as Spain stabilized its conquests. However, Pizarro at Cajamarca marked the end of the Inca empire and the start of the European colonization of South America.