Inca Civil War | |||||||
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Illustration by John Harris Valda, envisaging an encounter between Huáscar and Atahualpa on a battlefield during the civil war | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Huáscar and his allies | Atahualpa and his allies | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Huáscar (POW) Atoc † Hango † Topa Atao (POW) Ullco Colla † Tito Atauchi Uampa Yupanqui Guanca Auqui Agua Panti Paca Yupanqui |
Atahualpa Chalcuchimac Quizquiz Rumiñawi Ukumari Tomay Rima † | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
~400,000; 100,000 Ecuadorian Cañaris |
Initially 50,000–100,000 At peak some 250,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Possibly more than 100,000 killed Tumebamba destroyed | Unknown |
Inca Empire |
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Inca society |
Inca history |
The Inca Civil War, also known as the Inca Dynastic War, the Inca War of Succession, or, sometimes, the War of the Two Brothers, was fought between half-brothers Huáscar and Atahualpa, sons of Huayna Capac, over succession to the throne of the Inca Empire.[1]: 146–149 [2] The war followed Huayna Capac's death.
It began in 1529, and lasted until 1532. Huáscar initiated the war; appointed as emperor and claiming the throne, he wanted to defeat Atahualpa's competition. Atahualpa was tactically superior to his brother in warcraft and to the mighty armies of Cuzco, which their father had stationed in the north part of the empire during the military campaign.[3] Accounts from sources all vary in the exact details. Following Atahualpa's victory, Spanish forces led by Francisco Pizarro invaded this region. He ultimately captured and killed Atahualpa, after receiving a ransom that was purportedly to free him.[4]