Battle of Cusco

The Battle of Cusco was fought in November 1533 between the forces of Spanish Conquistadors and of the Incas.

Battle of Cusco (1533)
Part of the Spanish conquest of Peru
Date shortly before November 15, 1533 Location Cusco, present-day Peru Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire Spanish Conquistadores Native allies Huancas Chankas The Cañari Chachapoyas	Inca Empire
Commanders and leaders
Hernando de Soto Juan Pizarro II	Quizquiz
Strength
Thousands of native auxiliaries 250-300, 60+ cavalry and 3 guns	Unknown, but probably 10,000-100,000
Casualties and losses
Minimal, mainly Indians	Thousands, army routed

After executing the Inca Atahualpa in 26 July 1533, Francisco Pizarro marched his forces to Cusco, the capital of the Incan Empire. As the Spanish army approached Cusco, however, Pizarro sent his brother Juan Pizarro and Hernando de Soto ahead with forty men. The advance guard fought a pitched battle with Incan troops in front of the city, securing victory. The Incan army under the command of Quizquiz withdrew during the night.

The next day, 15 November 1533, Pizarro entered Cusco, accompanied by Manco Inca Yupanqui, a young Inca prince who had survived the massacre that Quizquiz had done to the nobility in Cusco. The Spanish plundered Cusco, where they found much gold and silver. Manco was crowned as Sapa Inca and helped Pizarro to drive Quizquiz back to the North.

Quizquiz was eventually killed, after being struck down by his own followers, leaving none to lead the Inca Empire, since his only equal commander, Chalkuchimac, had been burned in captivity. Three years later Manco Inca Yupanqui fled from Cusco and tried to recapture the city with some 100,000 Incas, but ultimately failed after a ten-month siege.