Battle of Chimborazo

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Atahualpa-Huascar conflict
partof=Inca Civil War
campaign=Huáscars invasion of Northern Inca Empire


caption=
date=After 1529, probably in 1531
place=At Chimborazo, in present-day Ecuador
casus=
territory=Huáscar's army routed
Cajamarca and Tumipampa retaken
Tumebamba razed
result=Victory for Atahualpa's army, Huáscar forced to retreat
combatant1=Atahualpans
combatant2=Huáscarans
Tumipampa auxiliaries
commander1=Atahualpa
Chalkuchimac
Quizquiz
Rumiñahui
commander2=Inca empire:
AtocPOW
HangoPOW
Tumipampa remnants:
Ullco CollaKIA
strength1=Unknown
strength2=Unknown
casualties1= Unknown
casualties2= Unknown

The Battle of Chimborazo was among the first confrontations in the War of the two brothers, a struggle between Huascar and Atahualpa for power over the Inca Empire. Atahualpa won, having the more capable generals; he drove Huascar back onto the defensive.

The war resulted from a dispute over dynastic succession. In 1527, Huayna Capac died, leaving a large and powerful empire. He bequeathed the major part of his domain to Huáscar, who in 1531 invaded his brother Atahualpa's smaller share, the Northern Inca Empire.Fact|date=July 2008 The capital Cajamarca was occupied, Tumebamba defected, and Atahualpa was captured. However, Atahualpa escaped with the aid of a small girl and united himself with Huayna Capac's generals Quizquiz and Chalicuchima, both skillful, and together they attacked Huáscar near Chimborazo. Although superior in numbers, Huáscar was defeated and forced to retreat. The foundations of Huascar's power were shaken by the defeat, and in the next year, all Cusco dominance came to an end at Quipaipan.
Atoc was reportedly captured in the battle and suffered a most gruesome death at the hands of Chalkuchimac. Some sources suggest his head was used as a golden cup, others that he was left on the battlefield with his eyes torned out. Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa claims he and second-in command Hango were flayed and their skins used as drums. Ullco Colla, lord of the defected Tumipampa tribe, died in battle and his city captured shortly after, but reportedly spared by Atahualpa.

Bibliography

* Kubler, George (1945), "The Behavior of Atahualpa, 1531-1533", "Hispanic American Historical Review" 25.
* Towle, George Makepeace (1881), "Pizarro, his Adventures and Conquests", London: Routledge.
* Williams, Henry Smith (1907), "The Historians' History of the World".
* Rostworowski de Diez Canseco, María (1960), "Succession, Cooption to Kingship, and Royal Incest Among the Inca.", "Southwestern Journal of Anthropology" 16.