Inca Civil War

war of succession just before the Spanish conquest

The Inca Civil War, the Inca Dynastic War, or the Inca War of Succession, was a civil war in the Inca Empire. It was fought between two brothers, Huáscar and Atahualpa, sons of Huayna Cápac, over who would be the next emperor.[1] The war came after Huayna Capac's death in 1527, and lasted from 1529 until 1532. When their father died, the empire was divided between the two brothers. Huáscar got most part of it, with the capital Cusco. Atahualpa got the northern parts, including Quito.

Inca Civil War

Emperor Atahualpa, the victorious brother, however, his reign as emperor was short.
Date1529 to April 1532
Location
Result Northern victory
Reunion of the Inca Empire under the rule of Atahualpa
Belligerents
Inca Empire
Tumebamba
Tumipampa
Northern Inca Empire
Commanders and leaders
Huascar (POW)
Atoc 
Hango 
Topa Atao (POW)
Ullco Colla 
Tito Atauchi
Uampa Yupanqui
Guanca Auqui
Agua Panti
Paca Yupanqui
Atahualpa
Chalkuchimac
Quisquis
Rumiñahui
Ucumari
Tomay Rima  
Strength
~400,000;
100,000 Cañaris, 2 000 000 reservist
Initially 50,000-100,000
At peak some 250,000
Casualties and losses
At least 100,000 killed
Tumebamba destroyed
Unknown

Huáscar started the war because he saw himself as the rightful heir to the kingdom. Atahualpa proved to be a better war tactician than his brother, and commanded a much bigger army.[2] The empire was reunited under Atahualpa in 1532, but he was executed by the Spanish less than a year later.

It was partly because of this civil war that the Spanish conquistadors, under Francisco Pizarro, were successful.

References

change
Notes
  1. Hemming, The Conquest, p. 29.
  2. MacQuarrie, The Last Days, p. 50.
Sources
  • Hemming, John. The Conquest of the Inca. New York, NY: Harcourt, Inc., 1970, 28-29.
  • MacQuarrie, Kim. The Last Days of the Inca. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2007, 50.