Inca

Though the Incas where already established in the Peruvian Andes in the 11th century it was not until 1460 that they eventually reached Ecuador to conquer the Cañari civilization. The head of the Incas was Tupac-Yupanqui whom, once settled, built a city called Tomebamba that stood where the modern town of Cuenca is now found.

There are no remains of this once fabulous city, but at Ingapirca, close to Cuenca, there is a well preserved Inca site that was once an imposing fortress or temple. Eventually the inexorable Inca conquest reached the northern Señorio Etnico people who, in 1492, lost to the Inca invasion.

Huayna-Capac, Tupac's son was king of the Inca Empire by this time and his marriage with the daughter of one of the rulers of the Señorio Etnico produced a son called Atahualpa; half brother to Huayna's other son, Huascar, of pure Inca lineage.

The kingdom was passed equally over to both sons once King Huayna died and the rivalry of the two new kings eventually brought the empire to an end. Constant battles weakened the once strong Inca Empire.

Atahualpa eventually defeated his brother but his victory was short lived. The Spanish conquerors, led by Francisco Pizarro, kidnapped Atahualpa while he was resting in Caxamarca. After several months and lots of gold paid as a ransom, Atahualpa died, found guilty by the Spanish of killing his brother. The Inca Empire fell after many Inca generals, such as Calicuchima, Quis Quis and Rumiñahui were defeated by the Conquistadors.