The beginning of the quarrel among brothers

The dignitary entrusted with fulfilling the three desires of Huayna Capac and of conducting his mummy back to Cuzco was Cusi Topa Yupanqui who belonged to the panaca of Pachacutec and was a kinsman of the mother of Atahualpa.

After the funeral cortege arrived in the capital, the nobles entrusted with the trip were severely reprimanded by Huascar for leaving Atahualpa in the north and they were accused of conspiracy. Their protests and affirmation of their innocence were useless. Despite the torment, they didn't confess anything. Nevertheless, Huascar ordered them killed thinking that if he spare their lives they would always be dangerous enemies.

The events displeased the lords of Huayna Capac's following and apparently some of them returned to Quito without waiting for the ceremonies.

Meanwhile, Atahualpa went to Tumibamba to order the construction of a palace for Huascar, an attitude that displeased the curaca of Tumibamba named Ullco Colla who sent secret messengers to Huascar complaining about the project, insinuating Atahualpa was attempting a rebellion. To ingratiate himself with Huascar, this prince sent rich gifts to Cuzco, but the Inca's fury mounted and he killed the messengers ordering drums to be made from their corpses. Afterwards Huascar's ambassadors left on their way to Quito with feminine articles of clothing and makeup for Atahualpa. These episodes were the cause of the break between the brothers. Atahualpa could no longer return to Cuzco as Huascar had ordered since he would have gone to a sure death.

According to the chronicler Cobo, the generals of Huayna Capac who stayed in the north were those who pushed Atahualpa to rebel since they judged that if they went to Cuzco they would not have the same situation with Huascar as that which they enjoyed with Atahualpa.

In these circumstances, the Caņaris in favor of Huascar took advantage of Atahualpa's negligence to make him prisoner and they locked him up in a tambo, but during the night Atahualpa succeeded in making a hole in the wall with a copper bar a woman provided for him and silently escaped. Afterwards he would recount that the Sun, his father, transformed him into an amaru (serpent) and thus he escaped.

Once free, Atahualpa headed to Quito where he reunited an army to march on Tumibamba. After the victory he inflicted a harsh punishment on the Caņaris. Then he went to the coast and arriving in Tumbes he wanted to dominate the island dwellers of Puna and he embarked in numerous rafts. Those of Puna offered resistance and a naval battle was begun which the islanders, expert raftsmen, won. As for Atahualpa, he came out of it wounded in one leg, decided to return to the land and not stop until he reached Quito. Then the curaca of Puna attacked Tumbes and razed the town. In that state Pizarro found it when he arrived on its coasts on his third voyage. In addition he found on the island some six hundred captives from Tumbes belonging to Atahualpa's troops.

Huascar's mistakes

While Atahualpa started an open rebellion against his brother, Huascar established his government in the capital. At that time he had the support of the nobility and of the leading class of Tahuantinsuyo. But he did not know or did worry about keeping his prestige since he had a cowardly, violent, cruel and unruly character. Huascar did not give the royal ayllus the attention to which they were accustomed and did not attend public meals in the plaza where the bonds of reciprocity and kinship were strengthened.

Another reason for anger towards the Inca was that he had removed the traditional custodian ayllus from his guard and had replaced them with some Chachapoyas and Caņari mitimaes, which is to say, foreigners.

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