Atahualpa

c. 1502 – 26 July 1533

Atahualpa (c. 1502 - 1533) was the last sovereign emperor of the Inca Empire. He won the Inca civil war against his half-brother Huáscar, but was captured by Francisco Pizarro's Spanish expedition at Cajamarca in November 1532 and, despite paying an enormous ransom in gold and silver, was executed in July 1533.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Atahualpa.

Life events

Born a son of the Inca emperor Huayna Capac
c. 1502

Atahualpa was born around 1502; chroniclers disagree on whether his birthplace was Cusco or Quito, and on the identity of his mother.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Accompanied his father on campaigns in the northern empire
c. 1520

He spent much of his youth with Huayna Capac's armies in the region of Quito, building loyalty among the empire's veteran northern forces.

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Death of Huayna Capac left the succession divided
c. 1527

The emperor and his designated heir died in an epidemic, probably smallpox spreading ahead of the Europeans, leaving Huáscar ruling from Cusco and Atahualpa in control of the north.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Fought the Inca civil war against his half-brother Huáscar
c. 1529 – 1532

A destructive war of succession between Atahualpa's northern armies and Huáscar's forces from Cusco divided the empire.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Won the civil war after his generals captured Huáscar
1532

Atahualpa's generals Quizquiz and Chalcuchimac defeated Huáscar's army near Cusco and took him prisoner, leaving Atahualpa as effective ruler of the empire.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Offered and paid an enormous ransom of gold and silver
November 1532 – June 1533

From captivity Atahualpa promised to fill a room once with gold and twice with silver; the treasure was collected from across the empire and melted down by the Spanish.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Captured by Francisco Pizarro's forces at Cajamarca
16 November 1532

In a surprise attack during a meeting in the plaza of Cajamarca, a small Spanish force massacred Atahualpa's retinue and seized the emperor.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Ordered the death of the captive Huáscar
c. 1533

While imprisoned, Atahualpa is reported by chroniclers to have ordered his brother Huáscar killed to prevent the Spanish from using him as a rival.

Other ?
Executed by the Spanish at Cajamarca
26 July 1533

Despite the ransom, the Spanish tried Atahualpa and executed him by garrote after he accepted baptism to avoid being burned, ending the sovereign Inca Empire.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓