Spanish conquest of Inca Empire through capture of Atahualpa and civil war. Atahualpa was engaged in civil war with his brother Wascar over succession to the Sappa Inca throne Pizarro captured Atahualpa by inviting him to meet at Cajamarca, exploiting cultural differences regarding the untouchable status of the Sappa Inca Pizarro held Atahualpa prisoner for over a year, extracting gold and silver while gathering intelligence on the empire

Atahualpa was fighting his brother Huáscar in a civil war when Pizarro lured him to Cajamarca. Under Inca law, the Sappa Inca was untouchable—no one would dare attack him. Pizarro exploited this cultural disconnect. Huáscar was killed by Atahualpa's generals during the civil war.

Key facts:

- Atahualpa was engaged in civil war with his brother Huáscar over succession to the Sappa Inca throne

- Pizarro captured Atahualpa by inviting him to meet at Cajamarca, exploiting cultural differences regarding the untouchable status of the Sappa Inca

- Pizarro held Atahualpa prisoner for over a year, extracting gold and silver while gathering intelligence on the empire

- Huáscar was murdered by Atahualpa's generals during the civil war

- Pizarro installed Manco Inca Yupanqui as a puppet Sappa Inca after executing Atahualpa

Key Facts

  • Atahualpa was engaged in civil war with his brother Wascar over succession to the Sappa Inca throne
  • Pizarro captured Atahualpa by inviting him to meet at Cajamarca, exploiting cultural differences regarding the untouchable status of the Sappa Inca
  • Pizarro held Atahualpa prisoner for over a year, extracting gold and silver while gathering intelligence on the empire
  • Wascar was murdered by Atahualpa's generals before reaching Cajamarca
  • Pizarro installed Manco Inca, Wascar's younger brother, as a puppet Sappa Inca after killing Atahualpa
  • Pizarro walked into Titiqaqa, Cusco unopposed with Manco Inca at his side
  • Manco Inca eventually escaped and led a rebellion from Vilcabamba in the Amazon but was hunted down and killed

Related site: Wat'a, Cusco — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.

Source: What Caused the Inca Empire to Collapse by Archaeologist Ed Barnhart