Historical Sketch of Caxamarca, Huaina Capac, Huascar Inca, and
Atahualpa....Arrival of Pizarro at Tumpis....At Caxamarca....
Spanish Embassy....Harangue of Soto....Answer of Atahualpa....Visit
of Atahualpa to Pizarro....Discourse of Friar Vicente Valverde, to
Atahualpa....Answer of Atahualpa....Imprisonment of....Offered
Ransom of....Cause of the Jealousy of Pizarro....Arrivals of
Treasure....Accusation, for the Trial of Atahualpa....Sentence,
Baptism, Execution, and Burial of....Interesting Remains
in Caxamarca.
Caxamarca is a place interesting in the history of Peru; it was here
that the Inca Atahualpa resided when Pizarro landed at Tumpis, now
Tumbes, in the mouth of the Guayaquil river. The residence of Atahualpa
at this place was accidental, as will appear from the following
historical sketch, which I have endeavoured to make as correct as
possible, with the assistance of the works of Garcilaso, Gomara, Zarate,
and others; collated with the oral traditions of the indians of this
province, and particularly the Cacique Astopilco, as well as those of
Quito.
Huaina Capac having conquered the kingdom of Quito, married
Paccha-chire, daughter of the Quitu, or King of that country; she bore
him a son, who was named Atahualpa, whom some writers have erroneously
called Atabalipa, Atalipa, and Atalpa. His eldest son, by his wife, the
Empress Rava Ocllo, born at Cusco, was called Inte Guri Hualpa; but on
the day of the Apu-ñaca, he was named Huascar, under which name he is
always known as Inca of Peru. Huaina Capac died at Quito, and left to
Atahualpa all that territory which had formerly belonged to the Quitu;
and to Huascar the remaining part of the empire, on condition that
Atahualpa should do homage to his brother Huascar, as legitimate
descendant of the Sun.
The disappointment of Huascar at finding a brother whom he had
considered a bastard thus elevated, made him determine on his
destruction; but he first procured a delay which might allow him to
assemble his troops, and at the same time to probe the intention of
Atahualpa. He therefore sent a messenger to inform him, that by the will
of their father, he and his kingdom were tributary to the Inca of Cusco;
and that, as he intended, so soon as the great feast held on the day on
which the sun passed the zenith of Cusco was over, to extend his
conquests to the southward, he required a certain number of armed men
from Quito, as a tributary quota. Atahualpa perceived the drift of the
subterfuge, and determined to avail himself of this opportunity to
forward his own views, and to acquire to himself the sole sovereignty,
which he perceived was the aim of his brother. He sent a considerable
force, with orders not to enter Cusco, but to remain in the
neighbourhood, and to conduct themselves as men sent to assist Huascar
in his future conquests; but on the day of the great festival, to enter
the city, and when all were employed in the religious rites of the day,
to possess themselves of the Inca, and to bring him as his prisoner.
Atahualpa, with another army, proceeded to Caxamarca, to await the
result of the expedition sent to Cusco; they succeeded in taking
Huascar; and the imperial insignia, a red tassel, which the Inca always
wore on solemn occasions, hanging on his forehead, was sent to
Atahualpa, who was now considered as Inca of Peru.
At this time the Spaniards had landed in Peru, at Tumbes, and after
possessing themselves, not without great opposition on the part of the
natives, of that place, Pizarro began his march towards the south.
Atahualpa was at Caxamarca, and his brother Huascar prisoner at
Andamarca, about forty leagues from Pachacamac. Atahualpa immediately
sent his brother Titu Atanchi as his ambassador to Pizarro, with most
magnificent presents, including two golden bracelets worn only by the
Incas, to welcome the arrival of the Viracochas, to solicit their
protection, and to invite them to visit him at Caxamarca. Huascar at the
same time, although a prisoner, found means to send his ambassadors to
Pizarro, informing him of the situation in which he was placed by
Atahualpa, and craving his protection.
Pizarro now found himself the arbiter of the fate of two monarchs, both
soliciting his friendship and protection, and each alleging his own
right to the empire of Peru; but Pizarro determined that it should not
belong to either of them, and the only thing that engrossed his
attention was the safest and easiest means of possessing himself of the
treasures of both. He therefore determined to go first to Caxamarca,
judging that the reigning Inca would be in possession of the greater
wealth, and Hernando Pizarro was afterwards sent to Pachacamac.
Francisco Pizarro pushed forward to Caxamarca, where he arrived with a
hundred and sixty soldiers. At this time Atahualpa was at the baths, and
Pizarro sent to him as his ambassadors his brother Hernando Pizarro and
Hernando de Soto, and as interpreter an indian named Felipe, a native
of the Puná island, in the Guayaquil river; these were accompanied by
two hundred noble indians, appointed by the Curaca of Caxamarca to
attend on them; Atahualpa being informed of the approach of the two
Spaniards, ordered one of his generals to form his troops and do them
the honors due to the children of the Sun. On their arrival at the
palace they were immediately presented to Atahualpa, who embraced them,
and said, "welcome, great Viracochas, to these my regions!" and having
two seats covered with gold brought in, he ordered them to sit down.
Atahualpa then, speaking to his courtiers, said, "behold the
countenance, the figure, and the dress of our god, the same which
appeared to my antecessor Inca Viracocha, and whose arrival was also
predicted by my father, Huaina Capac." A species of wine was brought,
and the Inca taking one of the golden goblets, the other was given to
Herando Pizarro, to whom the Inca bowed, and drank a small quantity,
giving the goblet to his brother Titu Atanchi, who drank the remainder;
two more were then brought, and the Inca taking one, sent the other to
Soto, to whom he bowed, and drank a little of the beverage, and gave the
goblet to his other brother, Choquehuaman. Different kinds of fruit
were then presented to the ambassadors, of which they partook with
Atahualpa.
Hernando de Soto rose, bowed to Atahualpa, resumed his seat, and
delivered his embassy, stating, that "in this world there were two most
potent princes, the one was the high Pontiff of Rome, Vicar-general to,
and representative of God on earth, who governed his church and taught
his divine law. The other was Charles V. Emperor of the Romans and King
of Spain. These two monarchs," said Soto, "being informed of the blind
idolatry of your highness and all your subjects, have sent our Governor
and Captain-general Don Francisco Pizarro, his companions, and some
priests, the ministers of God, to teach your highness and your vassals
the divine truths of our holy religion, and to establish with your
highness everlasting relationship, concord and peace."
To this harangue, interpreted by Felipe, the Inca answered to the
following effect:--"Divine men, I am most heartily glad that you and
your companions have arrived at these regions during the days of my
life, for your arrival has fulfilled the vaticination of my forefathers,
but my soul is sorrowful, because others must also be now fulfilled;
notwithstanding, Viracochas, I welcome ye as the missioners of our God,
and hope that the changes prophesied by my father, Huaina Capac, and now
about to take place, will lead to the good of myself and my people; it
was on this account that neither I nor my captains have opposed your
progress, as the natives of Puná and Tumpis did, because we believe you
to be the children of our great God Viracocha, and messengers of the
eternal all-creating Pachacamac--in obedience to our laws, and to the
orders and injunctions of my father, we have received ye, and will serve
and worship ye; but have pity on me and on my people, whose affliction
or death would be more distressing to me than my own."
Pizarro and Soto begged leave to retire to their own camp at Caxamarca,
and Atahualpa embraced them, and said, that he should soon follow them,
to enjoy the company of the children of his God, Viracocha, the
messengers of the great Pachacamac. When the two Spaniards had mounted
their horses, presents of gold were carried to them by several noble
indians, who begged of their divinities to receive those humble marks of
their respect and adoration. Pizarro and Soto then repaired to Caxamarca
with their rich presents, astonished at the enormous quantities of gold
which they had seen at the palace of Atahualpa.
On the following day, Pizarro placed his cavalry, composed of sixty
men, on each side of the square of Caxamarca, behind some high walls: in
the centre of the square he had built a small breastwork, behind which
he placed his two field-pieces, and behind these he stationed his
infantry, a hundred men, and thus awaited the arrival of the Inca.
Atahualpa made his appearance on a throne of gold, carried on the
shoulders of his courtiers and favourites, with a guard of eight
thousand of his soldiers in front, eight thousand on each side, and
eight thousand more in the rear, besides an immense number of nobles and
attendants. The troops were commanded by Rumiñavi, who advanced in
front, and acted as herald. Friar Vicente Valverde stepped forward a
short distance in front of the Spanish infantry, holding a cross of palm
leaves in his right hand, and waited the arrival of Atahualpa, who was
surprized to see a figure so different from the strangers whom he had
seen the preceding day; and being informed by Felipe, the interpreter,
that Valverde was the captain of words, and the guide to the supreme
Pachacamac, and his messenger, Atahualpa approached, when Valverde began
his most extraordinary harangue, requesting Felipe to translate it to
the Inca as he proceeded to deliver it.
"Know, most famous and most powerful Inca, that it is necessary and
requisite that thou and thine be taught the true Catholic faith, and
that ye now hear and believe what follows.
"First, that God, trinity in unity, created the heavens and the earth,
and all things in and on them; that he will reward the good with life
everlasting, and the bad with interminable punishment. This God created
man out of the dust of this earth, and gave him a soul, which is the
likeness of God himself; so that every man has a body and a soul.
"The first man was called Adam, whose children we all are. This Adam
sinned against the commandment of his Creator, and in him all men that
have been born, and that shall be born, sinned also; excepting Jesus
Christ, who is the Son of God, and the Virgin Mary, who came to redeem
us from the bondage of sin, and at last died on a cross that we might
live. The cross was like unto this which I hold in my hand and show to
thee, that thou with all Christians may adore and reverence it.
"Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and after living again on earth the
space of forty days, he went up into heaven, and sat himself down on
the right hand of his Father; he left on earth his Apostles, who left
their successors to teach the true religion, and guide all men to
heaven.
"Saint Peter was appointed the prince of the Apostles and the vicar of
Christ, and after him his successors the Pontiffs of Rome, whom the
Christians call Popes, who have the authority of Christ on earth, and
who always have and do preach to, and teach all men the word of God.
"Whereas the Pope who is now living on this earth, knowing that the
people of these countries did not serve the true God, but worshipped
idols and the likenesses of the devil, hath determined to bring them to
the true knowledge of religion, and he hath given the conquest of these
countries to Charles V. Emperor of the Romans, the most powerful King of
Spain, and Monarch of all the earth, to the end that he, having
subjected to himself all these people, their kings and lords, and
destroyed all rebels, may reign and govern all these nations alone, and
bring them to the knowledge of God and to obey his church. Our most
powerful King, although employed in the government of his great kingdoms
and provinces, accepted the gift of the Pope, for the sake of the health
of these people, and has sent his captains and soldiers to execute his
will, as they have done in former times, in the conquest of the great
islands and countries of Mexico, having overcome them with his powerful
arms, and brought them to the true religion of Jesus Christ, which he
was ordered by God to oblige them to embrace.
"Wherefore the great Emperor Charles V. appointed as his lieutenant and
ambassador Don Francisco Pizarro, who is here present, that these the
kingdoms of your highness may receive the like benefits; as also to form
a perpetual confederation, alliance, and friendship, between his majesty
and your highness, in such manner, that your highness and your kingdoms
may become tributary to him, that is, by paying tribute ye may become
his subjects; also that you may surrender to him every part of your
territory, and renounce the administration and government of it, in the
same manner as other kings and lords have done. This is the first
condition: the second is, that peace and friendship being established,
and you subjected either by will or by force, shall truly obey the Pope,
and receive and believe the faith of our God, Jesus Christ, and despise
and totally abjure the abominable superstition of your idols; you will
then soon observe how holy our religion is, and how false your own,
which was invented by the devil. All this, oh King! if you believe, you
must freely surrender yourself, because, to you and yours, it is of
great importance; and if you object to it, know that you will be
persecuted with a war of destruction: all your idols shall be thrown
down upon the ground, and we will force you with the sword to abandon
your false religion, whether ye will or not; and you _shall_ receive our
Catholic faith, and you _shall_ pay tribute to our king. Should you
obstinately resist this, believe me, that God will permit, as he
formerly did when Pharaoh and his host perished in the Red Sea, that you
and all your indians perish by the edge of our swords."
Felipe, the interpreter of this discourse, was a native of the Puná,
where the Quichua language generally spoken in Peru was not understood;
and what little he knew of it he had learnt of some Peruvians, who at
different times had visited his native island. The Spanish that he spoke
he had acquired during the time he had lived among the soldiers whom he
served; thus it cannot be expected that he gave to Atahualpa a faithful
translation of this absurd harangue, equally filled with
incomprehensible matter, furious bombast, and unjust threats; indeed
many mistakes are recorded, such as one God, trinity in unity, which he
translated one God, and three, four Gods; that God made dust of man on
the earth, which they could not possibly understand; and many other like
passages were rendered equally ridiculous. The impossibility of
translating the words trinity, unity, Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary, Roman
Pontiff, Emperor of the Romans, &c. is quite obvious, for they could
bear no translation at all, and a description of their meaning was as
much above the powers of Felipe, and perhaps of Valverde himself to
explain, as the comprehension of Atahualpa to understand, who now for
the first time heard that such things did exist.
When Atahualpa had heard the conclusion of this rodomontade fulminated
by Father Valverde, he sighed, and said, "ah! atay"--ah! how hard; and
after a short pause, he addressed himself thus to Valverde: "I should
feel happy, although every other request were denied me, if one were but
granted: procure a better interpreter, that I may be enabled to
understand what you have said; and that you may be better informed of
what I wish to say. I make this request, because I am certain that this
meeting ought to produce other things than what this fellow has repeated
to me. From what I have heard, it appears that you have come to destroy
the race of the Incas, and put to the sword all the indians who do not
understand you. If you are the ministers of vengeance of Pachacamac, and
come to destroy me and mine, fulfil his orders--none of us fear death,
and the vaticination of my father brings us to meet you unarmed.
"Your interpreter has informed me of five great men, whom I wish to
know, God, trinity in unity, four gods; Adam, on whom all men threw
their sins; Jesus Christ, the only man that did not assist in loading
Adam; Pope, Roman Pontiff; and Carlos Quinto, King of all the world; but
he tells me, that I am to give my country and my people, and pay tribute
to Carlos, and not to any of the other four. I am also told, that I must
abjure my religion, and believe in Jesus Christ, who died. If this be
true, I cannot forget the great Pachacamac, who made our God, the sun,
immortal, unless I learn who has told you what I have heard from your
interpreter."
This answer was translated by Felipe in short sentences, as Atahualpa
spoke them; who perceiving the ignorance of Felipe, endeavoured by this
method to prevent a misconstruction of his words. On hearing the last
question, Valverde gave his breviary to Atahualpa, and told him through
Felipe, that that book informed him of all that he wanted to know
respecting the true God. The Inca folded over the leaves, examined the
book, placed it against his ear and listened, then said, "it is false,
it cannot and does not speak," when he let it fall. At this, Valverde
cried out, "to arms, Christians! these infidel dogs have insulted the
minister of your Redeemer, the word of God is thrown under
foot--revenge! revenge!"
The soldiers immediately rushed on their unsuspecting victims; Pizarro
flew to Atahualpa, well aware that the preservation of his life was of
the utmost importance; but upwards of twenty thousand indians fell,
before the fury of the Spanish soldiery could be restrained, or their
more than barbarous thirst for blood was glutted. During this scene of
horror, the afflicted Atahualpa exhorted his people to resign themselves
to the will of Pachacamac, which he himself was willing to do, and not
to lift up their hands against the Viracochas; thus, he exclaimed, will
the vaticination of my forefathers be fulfilled.
What a contrast! a minister of the meek, the blessed Jesus, the Saviour
of the Gentiles, calling on an unfeeling soldiery to satiate their
blood-thirsty cruelty in murdering those very people whom his divine
master said that he came to redeem! while a king and a father beholds
the carnage of his people, and his children, and bows his head to the
believed decree of his God, and the prophecy of his forefathers! Here
the Christian calls aloud, "crucify him! crucify him!" while the pious
Gentile seems to say, "forgive them, Father, for they know not what they
do."
Pizarro and a soldier, called Miguel Astete, arrived at the same moment
close to the throne of Atahualpa, when Pizarro caught hold of the robes
of the Inca, and dragged him to the ground; Astete plucked the red
tassel from his forehead, and kept it till the year 1557, when he
delivered it to the Inca Sayritupac. After the slaughter, the Spanish
soldiers proceeded to plunder, and while Pizarro was attentive to secure
the Inca, part of his troops proceeded to the baths, where Atahualpa
resided, and possessed themselves of all the gold and silver which they
could find: the weight of gold taken at the baths, and accounted for,
amounted to fifteen thousand ounces.
Atahualpa was directly removed to a room in his own palace at Caxamarca,
and loaded with irons. Pizarro immediately sent his brother Hernando to
visit Huascar in his prison, and to endeavour to secure the treasure
that he might be possessed of; but whether the indians belonging to
Atahualpa, who had heard of the situation of their Inca, suspected that
Pizarro intended to put Atahualpa to death, and place Huascar on the
throne; or whether Hernando Pizarro endeavoured to deprive the guard of
their prisoner, is uncertain; but some misunderstanding having taken
place, an indian struck Huascar with his axe, of which wound he
immediately died.
Atahualpa having observed that the Spaniards were more covetous of gold
than of any thing which his kingdom produced, proposed to Pizarro a
ransom for himself; standing on his feet, he raised his hand, and
placing it on the wall, he said, "to this mark will I fill this room
with vessels of gold, if you will free me from these chains and from
this prison." To this Pizarro agreed, and messengers were sent to Quito,
Cusco, and different parts of the country, for the purpose of collecting
the gold and sending it to Caxamarca. Some of the Spanish officers went
with the messengers of Atahualpa, and when they returned they described
the number of indians which the country contained, and the universal
obedience to the Inca in such terms, that they fancied a general rising
would take place, and instead of gold, they would bring their arms and
put all the Spaniards to death; that Atahualpa had deceived them, and
was a traitor, and as such ought to be punished. Pizarro opposed this
for some time, till an accident occurred which touched his pride, and
made Atahualpa personally odious to him. Some of the Spanish officers
had written the word God on the hand of the Inca, and when he shewed it
to any one, the person would point upwards; at length he shewed it to
Pizarro, who could neither read nor write, and was therefore unable to
make any sign of the meaning of the word. Atahualpa was surprised, and
Pizarro was abashed; his feelings were wounded, and he began to hate the
man who had discovered him to be more ignorant than his inferiors.
Atahualpa began to forebode his doom, and became dejected; his own
servants were not permitted to wait on him; their places were supplied
with indians who had attached themselves to the Spanish camp; some of
whom were unacquainted with the Quichua language, had never been the
vassals of Atahualpa, and all of them were inclined to insult him.
The indians began to arrive from different parts, bringing with them the
gold which they had been assured would ransom their captive monarch;
but that which by them was destined to save his life was changed by his
cruel masters into the cause of his death. From the number of indians
who arrived daily, the Spaniards began to fear a revolution in favour of
their prisoner: they had already received an enormous quantity of gold;
Huascar was dead, and Pizarro presumed, that by securing to himself the
possession of the country, he should consequently become master of the
treasures which it contained. He therefore determined to bring Atahualpa
to trial; for which purpose, he constituted himself president of the
court, and nominated the other members. The following is a copy of the
charges exhibited against the unfortunate Atahualpa, on the baseness of
which all comment is unnecessary--the mere reading must draw from every
sympathizing heart detestation of the inhuman proposer and promoter.
That Huaina Capac having had several wives, and Huascar Inca, being the
first-born of his Empress Rava Ocllo, was the legitimate heir to the
empire, and Atahualpa not the son of Huaina Capac, but the bastard of
some indian of Quito. That Atahualpa did not inherit the empire
according to the will of his father, but was an usurper and a tyrant;
and that Huascar was the lawful Inca, according to the will of his
father and the right of inheritance. That Huascar had been murdered by
order of Atahualpa, after the arrival of the Spaniards. That Atahualpa
was an idolater, and obliged his vassals to sacrifice human beings to
his idols. That Atahualpa had waged unjust wars, and thereby murdered
many indians. That Atahualpa had kept many concubines. That Atahualpa
had recovered, spent, and lavished in excesses the tributes of the
empire, after the Spaniards had taken possession of it, giving to his
relations and friends treasure belonging to the public funds. That
Atahualpa had, during his imprisonment, advised his captains and indians
to rebel against the Spaniards, and put them to death, for which purpose
he had mustered a considerable force of armed indians.
After this shameful libel had been read to the court by Sancho de
Cuellar, Pizarro stated, that all those who should now attempt to defend
the life of Atahualpa were traitors to the crown of Castile and to the
Emperor, their master, and might be justly accused of opposing the
increase of his kingdom and revenue. That the death of the tyrant
Atahualpa would secure to Castile an empire, and to all present their
lives and fortunes. That if any one opposed his death, it should be
reported to his Majesty, that he might reward his faithful servants, and
punish those who endeavoured to deprive him of his right. After this
diabolical harangue, it is almost unnecessary to say, that the
unfortunate Atahualpa was sentenced to death.
Atahualpa was immediately informed of his fate, and told, that if he
were baptized, he would be put to an honourable death, such as was
inflicted on noblemen in all civilized countries; but if he refused to
receive this sacrament, he would be burnt to death: hearing this, he
desired Friar Vicente Valverde to baptize him: the friar complied with
the request, and called him Juan Atahualpa. He was then led out to the
place of execution, in front of his own palace, where he was tied to a
pole, and strangled; and his body received Christian burial on the spot
where he was murdered, notwithstanding his last request--that he might
be carried to Quito, and buried in the tomb of his forefathers.
Pizarro attended the execution of his prisoner, afterwards wore mourning
for him, and ordered his exequies to be performed with all possible
pomp. It may perhaps be satisfactory to some of my readers to mention
here, that Pizarro was afterwards murdered by his own countrymen at
Lima; and Father Valverde, by the Indians of Quispicancha. According to
Zarate, the treasure which had been brought for the ransom of Atahualpa,
and which fell into the hands of Pizarro, amounted to four hundred and
ninety-eight thousand ounces of fine silver, and one million five
hundred and ninety-one ounces of gold.
The places in Caxamarca worthy the notice of a visitor, as having been
connected with the fate of Atahualpa, are a large room, part of the old
palace, and now the residence of the Cacique Astopilco, where this
ill-fated monarch was kept a prisoner for the space of three months, or
from the first day of his meeting Pizarro to the day on which he was
murdered by order of that general; in this room also is the mark which
he made on the wall, promising to fill it to that height with silver and
gold as a ransom. In the chapel belonging to the common gaol, which was
formerly part of the palace, the altar stands on the stone on which
Atahualpa was placed by the Spaniards and strangled, and under which he
was buried. Near the fountain in the plasa are still visible the
foundation stones of the small battery erected by Pizarro, in the front
of which Valverde delivered his famous harangue to the Inca, and whence
he commanded the Spanish soldiers to massacre the indians. About a
league from the city are the baths where Atahualpa was living when
Pizarro arrived; the one on the right hand is called the bath of the
Inca. Near to the baths there is also a farm house belonging (1812) to
Doña Mercedes Arce, where there are many ruins of what appears to have
been a granary or store belonging to the Inca; here are many
excavations, in some of which there are marks on the stones of one
thousand, two thousand, &c.--this has induced some people to search for
treasure, but none has ever yet been found. At the distance of two
leagues from Caxamarca is a stone called _inga rirpo_, resting stone of
the Inca; it is similar to the one described by M. Humboldt, which he
saw at the _Paramo de Asuay_, which is called inga _chungana_, Inca's
resting place. The inga rirpo, near to Caxamarca, is a large block of
freestone, eleven feet long, two feet eight inches high above the
ground, and thirteen inches thick; it has two grooves cut across it near
to the centre, four inches deep, and five inches wide; here are also the
remains of a circular enclosure surrounding it eight yards in diameter;
it stands on the _Camino del Inca_, the military road on which the Incas
travelled from Cusco to Quito. The site of this resting stone commands
a most beautiful prospect of the valley of Caxamarca. The tradition of
the indians is, that the Inca used to be brought here to enjoy the
prospect, and that the two grooves in the stone were made, that the
cross ledges of his throne on which he was carried might rest secure in
them.