Battle of Cajamarca: Difference between revisions

| conflict = BattleCapture of CajamarcaAtahualpa

| image = IncaFile:La Captura de Atahualpa -Spanish confrontationJuan Lepiani 1920s.JPGpng

| image_size = 300

| caption = Contemporary engraving of the Battle of= Cajamarca,[[La showingcaptura Emperorde Atahualpa|Painting]] surroundedby on[[Juan hisLepiani]] palanquindepicting the capture of Atahualpa in Cajamarca.

| partof = the [[Spanish conquest of Peru]]

| date = November 16, 1532

| place = [[Cajamarca]], Peru

| result = Spanish victory

| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Spain|1506}} [[Governorate of New Castile|Nueva Castilla= [[Spanish Empire]]

| combatant2 = Incas faithful to [[Inca EmpireAtahualpa]]

| commander1 = {{flagicon|Spain|1506}} = [[Francisco Pizarro]]<br> {{flagicon|Spain|1506}} [[Hernando Pizarro]]<br> {{flagicon|Spain|1506}} [[Hernando de Soto]]

| commander2 = [[Atahualpa]]{{POW}}

| strength1 = 106 infantry<br>62 cavalry<br> four cannons<br>12 [[harquebus]]es<ref name="MacQuarrie">{{cite book | last = MacQuarrie | first = Kim | year = 2012 | title = The Last Days of The Incas | publisher = [[Hachette (publisher)|Hachette]] | location page= p70.70 | isbn = 9781405526074 978-1405526074}}</ref>

| strength2 = 3,000&ndash;8,000 unarmed personal attendants/lightly armed guards <ref>Jared Diamond ''Guns, Germs And Steel,'' Random House 2013 (p76p. 76), states that the Inca personnel were purely Atahualpa's personal attendants and nobles, whereas John Michael Francis (2006, ''Iberia and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History: a Multidisciplinary Encyclopedia'', v1v. 1, Santa Barbara, Ca.; ABC-CLIO, p322p. 322) states that they were "ceremonially armed guards".</ref>

| casualties1 = 01 slave dead;<ref>Most sources state that no Conquistadors were killed, while others state that five or fewer were killed.(Spencer C. Tucker, 2010, ''Battles That Changed History: An Encyclopedia of World Conflict'', Santa Barbara, Ca.; ABC-CLIO, p172p. 172.) Among modern sources stating categorically that no Spaniards were killed are (e.g.) Kim MacQuarrie, ''The Last Days of The Incas'', Hachette publishing 2012, p84p. 84.</ref><br>one wounded <!-- see talk page! -->

| casualties2 = 2,000&ndash;7,000 dead<br>17,000 taken prisoner

The '''Battle of Cajamarca''' also spelled '''Cajamalca'''<ref name="Andagoya">{{cite web|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Narrative_of_the_Proceedings_of_Pedrarias_Davila/Narrative_of_Pascual_de_Andagoya|title=Narrative of the Proceedings of Pedrarias Davila|first=Pascual de|last=Andagoya|publisher=The Hakluyt Society|page=47 |access-date=21 June 2019|via=Wikisource}}</ref><ref name="Navarette">{{cite book|last=de Navarette|first=Martin Fernadez|title=Viages menores, y los de Vespucio; Poblaciones en el Darien, suplemento al tomo II|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mWuiNQy_PDQC&pg=PA426|year=1829|language=es|pages=428–}}</ref> (though many contemporary scholars prefer to call it '''Massacre of Cajamarca''')<ref>{{Cite book|last=Delfino|first=Gianluca|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BNh1CwAAQBAJ&q=%22massacre+of+cajamarca%22&pg=PA175|title=Time, History, and Philosophy in the Works of Wilson Harris|dateyear=2016-05-31|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-3-8382-6905-4|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Roa-de-la-Carrera|first1=Cristián A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kMG9AwAAQBAJ&q=%22massacre+of+cajamarca%22&pg=PT218|title=Histories of Infamy|last2=Sessions|first2=Scott|dateyear=2005-01-15|publisher=University Press of Colorado|isbn=978-1-4571-0966-9|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Tandeter|first=Enrique|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1MVTBAAAQBAJ&q=%22masacre+de+cajamarca%22+pizarro&pg=PT28|title=La sociedad colonial: Nueva Historia Argentina|dateyear=2014-09-01|publisher=Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Argentina|isbn=978-950-07-4895-7|language=es}}</ref> was the [[ambush]] and seizure of the [[Inca Empire|Inca]] ruler [[Atahualpa]] by a small [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]] force led by [[Francisco Pizarro]], on November 16, 1532. The Spanish killed thousands of Atahualpa's counselors, commanders, and unarmed attendants in the great plaza of [[Cajamarca]], and caused his armed host outside the town to flee. The capture of Atahualpa marked the opening stage of the conquest of the [[pre-Columbian]] [[History of the Incas|civilization of Peru]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Cajamarca-1532|title=Battle of Cajamarca {{!}} Summary|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2017-07-26|language=en}}</ref>

The confrontation at Cajamarca was the culmination of a months-long struggle involving espionage, subterfuge, and diplomacy between Pizarro and the Inca via their respective envoys. Atahualpa had received the invaders from a position of immense strength. Encamped along the heights of Cajamarca with a large force of nearly 80,000<ref>{{cite book|first=John|last=Hemming|page=36|title=The Conquest of the Incas|publisher=Penguin Books |year=1987}}{{ISBN?}}</ref> battle-tested troops fresh from their victories in the [[civil war]] against his half-brother [[Huáscar]], the Inca felt they had little to fear from Pizarro's tiny army, however exotic its dress and weaponry. In an ostensible show of goodwill, Atahualpa had lured the adventurers deep into the heart of his mountain empire where any potential threat could be isolated and responded to with massive force. Pizarro and his men arrived on Friday November 15, 1532.<ref>{{cite book|first=John|last=Hemming|page=31|title=The Conquest of the Incas|publisher=Penguin Books |year=1987}}</ref> The town itself had been largely emptied of its two thousand inhabitants, upon the approach of the Spanish force of 180 men, guided by an Inca noble sent by Atahualpa as an envoy. Atahualpa himself was encamped outside Cajamarca, preparing for his march on [[Cuzco]], where his commanders had just captured Huáscar and defeated his army.

The book ''History Of The Conquest Of Peru'', written by 19th century author [[William H. Prescott]], recounts the dilemma in which the Spanish force found itself. Any assault on the Inca armies overlooking the valley would have been suicidal. Retreat was equally out of the question, because any show of weakness might have undermined their air of invincibility, and would invite pursuit and closure of the mountain passes. Once the great stone fortresses dotting their route of escape were garrisoned, argued Pizarro, they would prove impregnable. But to do nothing, he added, was no better since prolonged contact with the natives would erode the fears of Spanish "supernatural ways" that kept them at bay.<ref name=Prescott>Prescott, W.H., (2011,). ''The History of the Conquest of Peru'', Digireads.com Publishing, {{ISBN|9781420941142978-1420941142}}</ref>{{rp|171–172}}

Shortly before sunset Atahualpa left the armed warriors who had accompanied him on an open meadow about half a mile outside Cajamarca. His immediate party still numbered over seven thousand but were unarmed except for small battle axes intended for show. Atahualpa's attendants were richly dressed in what were apparently ceremonial garments. Many wore gold or silver discs on their heads and the main party was preceded by a group wearing livery of chequered colors, who sang while sweeping the roadway in front of Atahualpa. The Inca himself was carried in a litter lined with parrot feathers and partly covered in silver, carried by eighty Inca courtiers of high rank in vivid blue clothing. Atahualpa's intention appears to have been to impress the small Spanish force with this display of splendor and he had no anticipation of an ambush.<ref>{{cite book|first=John|last=Hemming|pages=38–39|title=The Conquest of the Incas|publisher=Penguin Books |year=1987}}</ref>

The Spaniards had concealed themselves within the buildings surrounding the empty plaza at the centre of the town. Infantry and horsemen were concealed in the alleyways which opened onto this open square. Spanish infantry were deployed to guard the entrances to a stone building in the centre of the square while men armed with [[arquebuses]] and four small cannoncannons took up places within it.<ref name="Hemming 38">{{cite book|first=John|last=Hemming|pages=38|title=The Conquest of the Incas|publisher=Penguin Books|year= 1987}}</ref> Pizarro ordered his men to remain silent and hidden until the guns were fired. During the hours of waiting tension rose amongst the greatly outnumbered Spanish and [[Pedro Pizarro]] recalls that many of his fellows urinated "out of pure terror".<ref name="Hemming 38"/>

Upon entering the square the leading Incans in attendance on Atahualpa divided their ranks to enable his litter to be carried to the centre, where all stopped. An Incan courtier carrying a banner approached the building where the artillery was concealed, while Atahualpa, surprised at seeing no Spanish called out an enquiry.<ref>{{cite book|first=John|last=Hemming|pages=39–40|title=The Conquest of the Incas|publisher=Penguin Books|year= 1987}}</ref>

[[Titu Cusi|Titu Cusi Yupanqui]] (1529–1571), son of Atahualpa’s half-brother [[Manco Inca Yupanqui|Manco II]], andwho ahad nephewescaped the killings of AtahualpaAtahualpa’s general Quizquiz, dictated decades later the only Inca account of the events leading up to the battle. According to Titu Cusi, Atahualpa had received "two [[Viracocha]]s", Pizarro and de Soto, at a date not specified "many days" before the battle, offering them a golden cup containing ceremonial [[chicha]]. "The Spaniard poured it out." The Spaniards then gave Atahualpa a letter (or book) which they said was ''quillca'' (writing) of God and of the Spanish king. Offended by the wasting of the chicha, Atahualpa threw the "letter or whatever it was" on the ground, telling them to leave.<ref name=Yupanqui>Yupanqui, T.C., (2005,). ''An Inca Account of the Conquest of Peru'', Boulder: University Press of Colorado, {{ISBN|087081821X}}</ref>{{rp|4, 60–61}}

On November 16, Atahualpa arrived at Cajamarca with "no weapons for battle or harnesses for defense," although they did carry ''[[tumi|tomes]]'' (knives) and ''lassos'' for hunting [[llama]]s. The Spanish approached and told Atahualpa that [[VirocochaViracocha]] had ordered them to tell the Inca who they were. Atahualpa listened, then gave one a gold cup of chicha which was not drunk and given no attention at all. Furious, Atahualpa stood and yelled "If you disrespect me, I will also disrespect you", and said he would kill them, at which the Spanish attacked.<ref name=Yupanqui/>{{rp|61–62}}

==BattleSpanish attack and Atahualpa's capture==

[[File:La capturaCaptura de Atahualpa - Juan Lepiani 1920s.jpgpng|250px|thumb|left|Capture of Atahualpa by Peruvian painter [[Juan Lepiani]]]]

The first target of the Spanish attack was Atahualpa and his top commanders. Pizarro rushed at Atahualpa on horseback, but the Inca remained motionless. The Spanish severed the hands or arms of the attendants carrying Atahualpa's litter to force them to drop it so they could reach him. The Spanish were astounded that the attendants ignored their wounds and used their stumps or remaining hands to hold it up until several were killed and the litter slumped. Atahualpa remained sitting on the litter while a large number of his attendants rushed to place themselves between the litter and the Spanish, deliberately allowing themselves to be killed. While his men were cutting down Atahualpa's attendants, Pizarro rode through them to where a Spanish soldier had pulled the Inca from his litter. While he was doing so, other soldiers also reached the litter and one attempted to kill Atahualpa. Recognizing the value of the Emperor as a hostage, Pizarro blocked the attack and received a sword wound to his hand in consequence.<ref name="De Leon">{{cite book | first = Alexandra and Noble | last = Cook | title = Discovery and Conquest of Peru (Translation of book 3 of a 4 book compilation of interviews with Pizarro's men and Indians by Pedro Cieza de León) | publisher= Duke University Press |isbn=0-8223-2146-7|year=1999}}</ref><ref>Juan de Betanzos ''Narratives of the Incas'' University of Texas Press, 1996 Pgp. 265 {{ISBN|0-292-75559-7}}</ref>

The main Inca force, which had retained their weapons but remained "about quarter of a league" outside Cajamarca, scattered in confusion as the survivors of those who had accompanied Atahualpa fled from the square, breaking down a fifteen-foot length of wall in the process. Atahualpa's warriors were veterans of his recent northern campaigns and constituted the professional core of the Inca army, seasoned warriors who outnumbered the Spaniards more than 45 to 1 (8,000 to 168). However, the shock of the Spanish attacklattack&mdash;coupled with the spiritual significance of losing the ''[[Sapa Inca]]'' and most of his commanders in one blow&mdash;apparently shattered the army's morale, throwing its ranks into terror and initiating a massive [[rout]]. There is no evidence that any of the main Inca force attempted to engage the Spaniards in Cajamarca after the success of the initial ambush.<ref>{{cite book|first=John|last=Hemming|pages=42–43|title=The Conquest of the Incas|publisher=Penguin Books|year= 1987}}</ref>

Atahualpa's wife, 10-year-old [[Cuxirimay Ocllo]], was with the army and stayed with him while he was imprisoned. Following his execution she was taken to [[Cuzco]] and took the name Doña Angelina. By 1538 shePizarro washad Pizarro'staken her as his mistress, bearingand himshe gave birth to two of Pizarro's sons, Juan and Francisco. Following hisPizarro's assassination in 1541, she married the interpreter [[Juan de Betanzos]] who later wrote ''Narratives of the Incas,'' part one covering Inca history up to the arrival of the Spanish and part two covering the conquest to 1557, mainly from the Inca viewpoint and including mentions of interviews with Inca guards who were near Atahualpa's litter when he was captured. Only the first 18 unpublished chapters of part one were known until the complete manuscript was found and published in 1987.<ref>Juan de Betanzos, ''Narratives of the Incas'', pp. 9-129–12</ref>

[[Category:Spanish conquestsconquest inof the AmericasInca Empire]]