Antonio Martín

Conquest of the Tahuantinsuyo

THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANIARDS

After the colonizers were already settled for a few decades in the Caribbean and Panama, they received news about a rich country that existed in the south. In 1524, a private enterprise of conquest and colonization, led by Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro was organized.

Pizarro led an expedition through the South American coast in 1526, which first came to the shores of Ecuador. They moved south, but they had difficulty keeping the expedition and came back, leaving a small group. After facing difficulties, the two heads again organized a new expedition in 1531 to cross the coast to Tumbez once again. There, they disembarked and moved to areas where they had heard there were great riches.

Kidnapping and Death of Atahualpa The invaders heard about the war between Huascar

and Atahualpa and that this latter had won. They found the weakness of the empire and looked for the support of several chiefs who were against Atahualpa, and made agreements with them. They moved from the coast to the interior without resistance. They set a trap for Atahualpa. They waited for him in the square of Cajamarca, and pretended to want just a dialogue with him.

As soon as Atahualpa went to the square with all his companions, he was approached by the monk Valverde, and showed a cross and a Bible. Atahualpa didn’t seem to understand and after taking a look to those things, he put aside the Bible. That was the signal for the Spaniards, who were hiding, to come out with their weapons and took him prisoner.

The kidnapping of Atahualpa caused confusion among indigenous peoples. His capture, and alliances among Spaniards and some indigenous who were against Atahualpa, prevented Incas with a coordinated defense.

The conquerors demanded a ransom for Atahualpa. A large amount of gold was collected in the empire and handed to Pizarro. Little later, Atahualpa was subjected to a sham of a "trial" and sentenced to death. Atahualpa was executed after forcing him to be baptized.

Military Resistance and Defeat In northern Tahuantinsuyo, several generals of Atahualpa

organized a resistance, but they were defeated by the Spaniards. They were supported by entire villages of disgruntled Indians that were in favor of the conquerors. Sebastian de Benalcázar _ was chosen by Pizarro to occupy the northern Tahuantinsuyo. To justify their right to conquer these territories against another Spanish expedition that came from the present Colombia, they founded the city of Santiago de Quito in August 1534, near present Riobamba. Then, they founded San Francisco de Quito, near Ambato.

In December of that same year, Pizarro took possession of the present city of Quito, which was a little destroyed (first by its indigenous defenders and then by the conquerors). The most remarkable resistance leader was the general Rumiñahui, who was executed after being defeated in Quito.

Glossary

Expedition. Group of conquerors made for explorations and possessions of territories.

Kidnapping. To take one or more people by force and keep them prisoners in order to force their relatives to pay a ransom to liberate them.

The Search for “El Dorado” The conquerors were constantly tempted by the legends

that indigenous told them, and decided to find a legendary kingdom with so much wealth where supposedly its king took daily a shower with gold and precious stones. In Quito, they heard that the kingdom was located in the unknown lands of the East, and Pizarro organized an expedition of hundreds of Spaniards and thousands of indigenous people to find it.

They began the journey and, before long, a group of conquerors who came from Guayaquil joined them (Commander Orellana). They faced great difficulties, famine and many deaths. They were attacked by the local indigenous peoples and also by tropical diseases.

The Search for “El Dorado” Because not everyone could move forward, Pizarro ordered

Orellana to explore the river with a small boat. By the Napo River, they reached the great river Marañon or Amazons, on February 12th, 1542. Over there, they went out to the Atlantic and ended up in Spain.

The Quito expedition, on the other hand, affected by hunger and diseases, returned to Quito. This is how the Spaniards arrived to the great river. They called it “Amazon” because some women warriors “the Amazons” lived over there, and fought hard to the conquerors. (Trailer)