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1533 - The city of Cuzco Entry into Cuzco  On November 15, 1533, Francisco Pizarro and Manco Inca led the victorious conquistadors into Cuzco. For Pizarro, this represented their ultimate goal - the occupation of the capital city. For Manco, this represented a homecoming after months of hiding from Atahualpa's forces. The alliance was mutually beneficial.Writing to King Charles, the Spaniards described the city as "the greatest and the finest ever seen in this country or anywhere in the Indies. We can assure Your Majesty that it is so beautiful and has such fine buildings that it would be remarkable even in Spain". Many of the fine stone walls and palaces the conquistadors encountered survive to this day, whilst the Spanish buildings and churches have succumbed to earthquakes. The Spanish installed themselves in the palaces and temples surrounding the main square. Fearing an attack by the general Quisquis, a guard of horses and men was kept ready in the main square for over a month. Manco crowned as Inca  Pizarro appointed Manco as ruler and encouraged him to organize an army to pursue and destroy Quisquis's army. An unsuccessful expedition followed, with 5,000 native warriors and 50 Spanish horsemen being repulsed by Quisquis's retreating army.Returning to Cuzco, Manco was crowned Inca amongst yet more Spanish pomp and ceremony. Friar Vicente de Valverde took the opportunity to deliver the infamous Requirement. This obliged the Indians to acknowledge the Church and the Pope and to accept the King of Spain as their ruler. It also obliged them to allow the Christian faith to be preached. Non-compliance would result in the Spanish launching an immediate attack that "would do all the harm and damage that we can..." "And we protest that the deaths and losses which shall result from this are your fault..." The looting of Cuzco The conquistadors then proceeded to calmly loot the city and its temples. The three Spaniards who visited Cuzco earlier in the year had been kept from seeing much of the city. The Spanish now discovered many beautiful and carefully crafted objects of art, made from gold and silver. An artificial garden of golden plants, insects, butterflies and birds was seized and summarily melted down. "Some of them immediately began to dismantle the walls of the temple, which were of gold and silver; others to disinter the jewels and gold vases that were with the dead..." The Indians were dismayed at the seizure and melting of a golden effigy representing their first Inca, Manco Capac. In the most sacred Temple of the Sun, Spaniards ignored the high priests and seized much gold and treasure. The most famous golden image of the sun, Punchao, was hidden by the Indians "so well that it could never be found". "When all the gold and silver they could find was brought, the marquis [Pizarro]... separated the royal fifth... divided and distributed the rest of the treasure among his men..." |
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