Huascar
Huáscar, born as Tupac Cusi Hualpa (Huascarpata, 1491 - Mollebamba, 1533) was the last Inca emperor officially crowned as such. He was one of the ten blood children of Huayna Cápac and one of the third with access to the throne. The official versions say that Huayna Cápac and his successor, Ninan Cuyuchi, died in 1527 of smallpox, [citation required] whose epidemic began to break out in the north of the Inca Empire after the imminent arrival of Europeans in South America. Given this fact, choosing the new Inca was difficult and finally Huáscar was chosen, since he had been appointed as Incap antin (lieutenant governor) of Cuzco by his father.
During his short government there were rumors about attempted coups whose planning included several of his brothers, among them his half-brother, Atahualpa, who would end up overthrowing him in 1532, imprisoning him and later ending his life; all of which happened shortly before Atahualpa himself was arrested by Francisco Pizarro, who executed him for having ordered the assassination of his brother, for the sin of polygamy and the crime of slavery against the natives.
Origin
He was probably born in the town of Huascarpata, with the name Tupic Cusi Hualpa (which he would later change upon taking power). He was the son of Huayna Cápac with Rahua Ocllo, one of the sisters of the Sapa Inca and ñusta with whom, according to the chronicler Juan de Santa Cruz Pachacuti Yamqui, they married after his death to legitimize the designation of Huáscar as Inca by the < i>orejones (nobles by blood or royal panaca) from Cuzco; despite not being chosen by his own father who died along with his legitimate successor, Ninan Cuyuchi. The decision made by the orejones was influenced by the experience that Huáscar had in governing a very important city such as Cuzco, since he obtained the position after his father went to conquer Quito with his, back then, young half brother Atahualpa.
The physical description of Huáscar is not taken with great enthusiasm by the chronicler, Guamán Poma de Ayala, who describes him as having a "long dark-skinned face, sancudo and ugly and with bad guts.
Government
During the beginning of his government, everyone recognized him as Sapa Inca, naming his brother Atahualpa incap rantin (lieutenant governor) of Quito and its area of influence. This request was accepted by Huáscar.
A few months after taking office, Huáscar discovered a vast conspiracy, involving several of his brothers who wanted to exalt Cusi Atauchi as heir, highly esteemed and admired in Cuzco. The Inca's fury was relentless, he ordered the execution of all the conspirators, among which were orejones of important panacas, mainly from the Hanan Cuzco saya. To feel safe, Huáscar distanced himself from the Cuzco nobility and surrounded himself with noblemen loyal to the hereditary succession, such as his brother Tito Atauchi, who assisted him as an adviser in the campaigns of: Pomacochas, Honda, Comacocha and Chupat, in the distant region of the chachapoyas.
Likewise, Huáscar tried to carry out a series of reforms in order to strengthen the authority of the Sapa Inca, such as the announcement of the burial of the mallquis or mummies of the Incas who preceded him, together with the confiscation of the properties of the panacas, as a way of reducing their excessive power. This, however, caused further discontent towards his person, causing voices of protest and rumors of a rebellion against him to rise.
Faced with these events, Huáscar began to distrust everyone and some Spanish chronicles, on the other hand, are not very objective, mentioning that on occasions he killed suspects without having conclusive evidence.[citation required]< /sup>
Inca civil war
Huáscar saw in Atahualpa the greatest threat to his power, since he had spent a decade fighting in his father's campaigns and had the support of the generals and people of Quito. He did not oppose his remaining as governor of Quito, out of respect for his late father's wishes, but with two conditions: that he not make military campaigns to expand his territories and that he recognize himself as his vassal and pay him tributes, and Atahualpa accepted them.
The truth is that the territory under the rule of Atahualpa was a very rich and populated area, having the possibility of carrying out campaigns of conquest to the rich towns to the north of it, something to which, by the way, he no longer Huáscar could aspire, since his northern border was practically closed by his brother's domains. Huáscar understood that Atahualpa could easily strengthen himself until he had the ability to confront him in order to subdue him.Atahuallpa also had the best troops in the empire and the most experienced generals from his father's campaigns.
A tense peace lasted no more than five years, without either of them carrying out any military campaign and devoting themselves to enjoying the wealth they inherited. Huáscar took advantage of that time to gain the support of the Cañaris, a powerful ethnic group that He dominated extensive territories in the north of the empire and held grudges against Atahualpa, as he had fought them during his father's campaigns.
To eliminate the rival brothers, Huáscar summoned them to Cuzco for the great reception ceremony of the mallqui or mummy of his father Huayna Cápac that had arrived from Quito. Atahualpa, on the advice of nobles and generals from Quito, did not travel to Cuzco, he only sent a delegation with the argument that he was campaigning against certain rebellious tribes in the far north. Huáscar humiliated and killed Atahualpa's embassy, ordering his immediate presence in Cuzco.
It was precisely his relatives and supporters who advised him not to travel to Cuzco and rather prepare for war and the seizure of power. Once war was declared, Huáscar sent an army commanded by his brother, General Atoc, who He rapidly advanced north and won the Battle of Chillopampa, but was defeated, captured, and beheaded at Mullihambato. His skull was plated with gold and used as a trophy vessel by Atahualpa. The Sapa Inca sent a new army headed by Huanca Aunqui who was defeated at Tomebamba and Mullituro.
Atahualpa took advantage of a truce (at harvest time no Andean ethnic group is supposed to carry out war campaigns) and took some northern cities. He also had tens of thousands of veteran soldiers from the northern campaigns and experienced generals that allowed him to advance to Huamachuco. From there he sent Quizquiz and Chalcuchímac for the final campaign in the center and south with the objective of destroying the huascaristas and taking Cuzco.
In the face of the serious emergency, Huáscar himself led his troops and achieved victories such as those of Tahuaray and Huanacopampa, however he lost the decisive battle of Quipaipán, even more so he was knocked out of his bunk and taken prisoner by the brave general Quizquiz.
The atahualpistas entered Cuzco and horribly killed Huáscar's supporters and relatives, mainly the members of the panaca Cápac Aillu (descendants of the Inca Túpac Yupanqui) to which the defeated Inca belonged.
Prison and death
Once the Cuzco army had been defeated, Huáscar was led barefoot, half-naked and tied by the neck to where Atahualpa was (who was also a prisoner by the Spanish conquistadors). However, before they met, Atahualpa, fearing that Pizarro would free Huáscar and return him to power, ordered his execution in the town of Andamarca. His remains were thrown into the Yanamayo River.
“In the most indignant way you can imagine, Huáscar was extracted to take him to the presence of Atahualpa, not in walks like the Incas sovereigns were styling, but on foot, walking as an insignificant plebeyo, with his hands tied behind his back, pulling him through ropes tied to his neck. But he could not appear in front of his “victory” brother, because he ordered to victimize him in the Andamarca, southwest of Huamachuco, in the present province of Santiago de Chuco. Cosa that was fulfilled by her minions, throwing her mortal remains into the Yanamayo River. So he avoided allying with the Spaniards.”Waldemar Espinoza Soriano#GGC11C
According to the chronicles of the conquest, Huáscar's body was thrown into the Yanamayo River or Andamarca River, near the town of Andamarca. Regarding the location of Andamarca, there are two sites, the first was located 30 km south of Huamachuco, near Cajamarca. While the second is located in the Ayacucho region.
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