Lecture 16: 1532 Cajamarca—Inca vs. Conquistadors
encountering only ruins as a result of the devastation caused by the
civil war between Atahualpa and Huascar.x Finally, on November 8, 1532, Pizarro left the coast to head inland.
He took with him 62 horsemen, 106 foot soldiers, and a few small
cannons. This small army ascended up into the mountains, passing
several points where their progress might easily have been halted
by a defensive force.The Campaign
x By extraordinary good fortune, Pizarro was making his advance
just as the civil war was reaching its climax, and Atahualpa was
encamped with an army of between 40,000 and 80,000 men at
Cajamarca, near where Pizarro was marching into the highlands.x Atahualpa sent an envoy to the Spanish bearing gifts and invited
Pizarro to meet him at Cajamarca. He seems to have received
accurate reports about their horses and weapons, but clearly, he
viewed their numbers as too few to pose any threat.x :KHQWKH6SDQLVKDUULYHGDW&DMDPDUFDWKH\IRXQGLW¿OOHGZLWKWKH
vast encampment of Atahualpa’s army. The Spanish occupied low
stone buildings lining the triangular main plaza. A Spanish embassy
visited Atahualpa, with inconclusive results.x Pizarro and his men began to fear for their lives, realizing that they
were deep in Inca territory and isolated from any possible aid. They
decided that their best chance of survival was to attempt to emulate
Cortés’s move and kidnap Atahualpa, using him as a hostage to
ensure their safety.x Accordingly, they invited Atahualpa to visit and prepared to seize
him if the opportunity arose. The Inca leader promised to come.
As the hours passed, the Spanish grew more agitated and sent a
message promising that no harm or insult would befall him. As the
sun began to set, Atahualpa, carried on a litter and accompanied by
an estimated 7,000 of his chiefs and retainers, entered the village.