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1532 - A ransom fit for a king A captive Inca  With
the bodies of several thousand dead Indians being cleared from
the square, Atahualpa was dressed in fresh clothing, served a
meal at Pizarro's table and then given a bed in the same room
where Pizarro was sleeping. The Spanish calmed Atahualpa's fears
of immediate execution by explaining that "Christians killed with impetuosity but not afterwards".Pizarro allowed Atahualpa to speak with some of his leading commanders taken in the battle. They confirmed the devastation of his army and took word to the remaining troops that they should obey Spanish as the Inca was in their power. Some of the Spanish were of the opinion that "all the fighting [natives] should be killed or have their hands cut off" but Pizarro would not consent to such cruelty. In conjunction with Atahualpa, he ordered the native troops to return to their homes so that only twelve thousand Indians remained around Cajamarca. Atahualpa's ransom Meanwhile, Atahualpa observed the Spanish lust for gold as they plundered the Inca's camp. Unable to conceive that these 160 men were the spearhead of a full-scale invasion and encouraged by Pizarro's words that "the fighting men were seeking nothing more than gold", Atahualpa offered his famous ransom: "Atahualpa said that he would give a room full of gold. The room measured 22 feet long by 17 feet wide (6.7m x 5.2m) and was to be filled to a white line half way up its height (about 2.5m)... he would fill the room with various objects of gold... he would also give the entire hut filled twice over with silver. And he would complete this within two months". Pizarro summoned his secretary to formally record the pledge from the Inca and settled down to wait for the arrival of the gold from Peru and reinforcements from San Miguel. Atahualpa's willing collaboration with the Spanish ensured their security and lent them an air of authority with the Indians. Death of Huascar  Meanwhile, Atahualpa's captive brother, Huascar, was en route from Cuzco and due to arrive at Cajamarca within a few days. Atahualpa was still obsessed with the civil war and feared the presence of his rival in Cajamarca. Instead of having Huascar released to form a national resistance against the invaders, Atahualpa had him killed by his escorts. In the coming weeks other members of the Inca family were also killed on Atahualpa's orders, removing a threat to his authority but eliminating potential resistance leaders and generating further strife amongst the Indian factions.By the end of December, gold began to arrive in Cajamarca but the impatient, greedy conquistadors began what was to become a familiar scene in the coming years: the harassment and abuse of a member of the Inca family in order to obtain yet more gold and treasure. |
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