Inca Civil War

Inca Civil War
Atahualpa and Huascar fighting for empire.
Illustration by John Harris Valda, envisaging an encounter between Huáscar and Atahualpa on a battlefield during the civil war
Date1529 – April 1532
Location
Result Victory of Atahualpa; reunion of the Inca Empire under his rule
Weakening of the empire which leads to the Spanish conquest
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

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]

  1. ^ Prescott, W.H., 1827, The History of the Conquest of Peru, Digireads.com Publishing, ISBN 9781420941142
  2. ^ Hemming, The Conquest, p. 29.
  3. ^ MacQuarrie, The Last Days, p. 50.
  4. ^ Pizarro, Pedro. Relación del descubrimiento y conquista del Perú.