Francisco Pizarro captures the Incan king, Atahualpa, at Cajamarca

Category
War
Place
Peru
Date
1532
Reference
Excerpts from Books and Wikipedia
"The 'Battle' of Cajamarca was the unexpected ambush and seizure of the Inca ruler Atahualpa by a small Spanish force led by Francisco Pizarro, on November 16, 1532. The Spanish killed thousands of Atahualpa's counselors, commanders and unarmed attendants in the great plaza of Cajamarca, and caused his armed host outside the town to flee. The capture of Atahualpa marked the opening stage of the conquest of the pre-Columbian Inca civilization of Peru." [Wikipedia] Pizarro (1476-1541), the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire, was 48 years old when he arrived in South America. Motivated by consuming worldly ambition and religious zeal, he reached the highlands of Peru in 1532. He was accompanied by just 180 men, but they were well equipped with armor, steel weapons, and horses. Atahualpa, the Inca leader, was encamped with an army of over 40, 000 men near the town of Cajamarca. During negotiations, Pizarro captured Atahualpa, and demanded a vast ransom for his release. When the ransom had been paid, Pissarro had him murdered, setting the seal on the Spanish conquest of Peru." [DK Timelines, p. 278]

This event is linked to the following periods

PeriodMiner
Begin
End
Category
Encounter
1492
1600
Latin American