647. The Fall of the Incas: The King in the North (Part 4)
This episode covers the Spanish conquest of Cusco in 1533-1535, including the massive looting of Inca gold and silver, the installation of puppet emperor Manco, Pedro de Alvarado's disastrous invasion attempt, and the defeat of Inca generals Quisquis and Ruminyawi, setting up Spanish control over Peru.
Summary
The episode begins with Pizarro and his conquistadors in Cajamarca after executing Atahualpa in summer 1534, installing a new puppet emperor Tupac Hualpa before marching 800 miles south toward Cusco. During this treacherous journey through the Andes, they encountered resistance from northern Inca forces but were generally welcomed as liberators by southern peoples who opposed Atahualpa's rule. When Tupac Hualpa died en route, they found a replacement in Manco, a teenage brother of the late Huascar, who became their new puppet ruler. The Spanish entered Cusco in November 1533, marveling at the golden temples and palaces, particularly the Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha) with its legendary garden containing golden llamas, plants, and other artifacts. They immediately began melting down the incredible wealth, creating another massive hoard of gold and silver. Pedro de Alvarado's arrival from Guatemala with 500 men created complications, leading to a three-way race for the northern city of Quito between Spanish factions. Alvarado's expedition ended in disaster with most of his men dying from exposure and volcanic ash, forcing him to sell his equipment and leave Peru permanently. Meanwhile, the northern Inca general Ruminyawi, who had gruesomely turned a rival into a drum, was eventually captured and executed after burning Quito's treasures. As more Spanish colonists arrived seeking land grants, the encomienda system began displacing native peoples, creating growing tensions that would eventually lead Manco to reconsider his alliance with the Spanish.
Key Insights
- The hosts argue that Pizarro's conquest succeeded largely because it aligned with one faction in the ongoing Inca civil war, rather than representing a purely Spanish versus Inca conflict
- The speakers claim that Spanish horses were devastatingly effective against Inca forces who lacked sufficient bows, arrows, and pikes to counter cavalry charges
- The chroniclers describe how Spanish conquistadors were driven mad by gold lust despite already possessing enough wealth to buy country estates in Spain
- The hosts explain that the Temple of the Sun contained an entire golden garden with life-sized golden llamas, plants, and animals that represented one of history's greatest treasure hoards
- The speakers note that unlike in Mexico, Spanish conquistadors in Peru made little initial effort to impose Christianity or destroy local religious practices due to being heavily outnumbered
- The historians argue that Pedro de Alvarado's expedition failed catastrophically because he brought tropical Guatemalan porters into freezing Andean conditions, killing most of them
- The hosts describe how the Inca general Ruminyawi literally turned his rival Kiliscacha into a functional drum by removing bones while preserving the skin intact
- The speakers claim that Spanish success depended heavily on native allies like the Huanca and Cañari peoples who had been oppressed by Inca rule
- The chroniclers explain that Manco initially welcomed Spanish partnership because he believed it would help him defeat northern Inca forces and secure his rule
- The hosts argue that the encomienda system of land grants to Spanish settlers began immediately displacing native peoples and undermining Manco's authority
- The speakers note that royal Spanish officials repeatedly ordered Pizarro to stop abusing indigenous peoples, but conquistadors routinely ignored these directives
- The historians claim that news of Peruvian gold created such a sensation in Europe that colonial officials worried about complete depopulation of other Spanish territories
Topics
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