The Inca Empire and Huayna Capac

The Inca Empire and Huayna Capac

• Huayna Capac, the 12th Inca, expanded the empire from present-day Colombia to Chile and from the Pacific Ocean to the Amazon basin.
• He devoted the last years of his reign to pacifying the northern edge of the empire.

The Smallpox Epidemic

• Huayna Capac contracted smallpox, a disease introduced to the Americas by European explorers.
• Smallpox, along with other diseases such as measles, cholera, malaria, and yellow fever, spread rapidly throughout the Americas, claiming countless native lives.

Succession Crisis

• Huayna Capac designated his son Ninan Cuyochi as his heir, but Ninan Cuyochi died of smallpox before ascending to the throne.
• This led to a succession crisis, as the empire's power was typically transferred from father to son.

The Brothers' Conflict

• Huascar, another son of Huayna Capac, was crowned Sapa Inca in Cusco with the support of the main royal families.
• Atahualpa, another half-brother, stayed in Quito and showed interest in military issues, unlike Huascar.
• Atahualpa didn't attend Huayna Capac's funeral nor Huascar's coronation, arousing Huascar's suspicions and leading to the Inca Civil War.

The Inca Civil War

• Huascar launched a military campaign against Atahualpa to consolidate his authority over the empire.
• Atahualpa had the support of his father's veteran troops and three experienced generals: Calcuchímac, Quisquis, and Rumiñahui.
• Huascar's army was initially defeated, and his general Atoc was captured, tortured, and killed.
• Atahualpa's generals pushed Huascar's army back until they reached the outskirts of Cusco.

The Turning Point

• Huascar personally led his troops to victory in the battle of Huanacopampa, but failed to pursue Quisquis and Calcuchimac's armies, allowing them to regroup and set up an ambush.
• Huascar was captured, and his army was annihilated.

The Aftermath

• Atahualpa's generals massacred Huascar's remaining troops, and Huascar's royal lineage was eliminated.
• Atahualpa arrived in Cajamarca, awaiting news of his troops' final attack on the capital.

The Arrival of the Spanish

• Atahualpa received reports of strange foreigners with beards arriving on the coasts of the empire in huge floating houses, with unknown beasts and thunderous sticks.
• Despite being informed of the foreigners' violent behavior, Atahualpa allowed them to advance, unaware of the danger they posed.

The Inca Empire and Huayna Capac

• Huayna Capac expanded the empire from present-day Colombia to Chile and from the Pacific Ocean to the Amazon basin.
• He spent the last years of his reign pacifying the northern edge of the empire.

The Smallpox Epidemic

• Huayna Capac contracted smallpox, a disease introduced to the Americas by European explorers.
• Smallpox, along with other diseases, spread rapidly throughout the Americas, claiming countless native lives.

Succession Crisis

• Huayna Capac designated his son Ninan Cuyochi as his heir, but Ninan Cuyochi died of smallpox before ascending to the throne.
• This led to a succession crisis, as the empire's power was typically transferred from father to son.

The Brothers' Conflict

• Huascar, another son of Huayna Capac, was crowned Sapa Inca in Cusco with the support of the main royal families.
• Atahualpa, another half-brother, stayed in Quito and showed interest in military issues, unlike Huascar.
• Atahualpa's absence from Huayna Capac's funeral and Huascar's coronation aroused Huascar's suspicions.

The Inca Civil War

• Huascar launched a military campaign against Atahualpa to consolidate his authority over the empire.
• Atahualpa had the support of his father's veteran troops and three experienced generals.
• Huascar's army was initially defeated, and his general Atoc was captured, tortured, and killed.

The Turning Point

• Huascar personally led his troops to victory in the battle of Huanacopampa, but failed to pursue Quisquis and Calcuchimac's armies.
• Huascar was captured, and his army was annihilated.

The Aftermath

• Atahualpa's generals massacred Huascar's remaining troops, and Huascar's royal lineage was eliminated.
• Atahualpa arrived in Cajamarca, awaiting news of his troops' final attack on the capital.

The Arrival of the Spanish

• Atahualpa received reports of strange foreigners with beards arriving on the coasts of the empire in huge floating houses, with unknown beasts and thunderous sticks.
• Despite being informed of the foreigners' violent behavior, Atahualpa allowed them to advance, unaware of the danger they posed.

La Guerra Civil Inca

• In 1500, the Sapa Inka Huayna Cápac, considered the 12th Inca, was at the peak of his reign, having expanded the Inca Empire from southern Colombia to central Chile and from the Pacific Ocean to the Amazon basin.
• Huayna Cápac named his son Ninan Cuyuchi as his successor, but he died prematurely due to smallpox, a disease introduced by Europeans.
• This event sparked a succession crisis, as power did not always pass from father to son in the Inca Empire, but rather to the most worthy and capable son.

The Rise of Atahualpa and Huáscar

• After Huayna Cápac's death, his son Huáscar was crowned as the new Sapa Inka in Cusco, while his other son Atahualpa remained in Quito.
• Atahualpa and Huáscar were half-brothers with opposing personalities, with Atahualpa being more interested in military affairs and Huáscar in excesses.

La Guerra Civil Inca

• The relationship between Atahualpa and Huáscar deteriorated when Atahualpa failed to attend Huayna Cápac's funeral rites and Huáscar's coronation in Cusco.
• Huáscar, enraged by the offense, decided to launch a military campaign against Atahualpa to consolidate his authority over the Empire.
• Atahualpa had the advantage of having his father's experienced and veteran army, while Huáscar had to resort to recruiting native troops to build his army.

La Batalla de Guanaco Pampa

• The war turned in favor of Huáscar when he led his troops personally and achieved a significant victory against Atahualpa's army at Guanaco Pampa.
• However, Huáscar made the mistake of not pursuing Atahualpa's forces, allowing them to regroup and lay an ambush the next day.

La Caída de Huáscar

• Huáscar divided his forces into three groups and led the pursuit of what he believed was a defeated army, but was attacked and annihilated by Atahualpa's forces.
• Huáscar tried to flee but was captured by Atahualpa's forces, stripped of his royal tunic, arms, and insignia, and sent to prison.
• Atahualpa's troops eventually achieved a definitive victory, and Huáscar was taken to the north, where he would face his brother's wrath.
• The women and children of Huáscar were also killed, eliminating his royal lineage.