INTRODUCTION - History

Pre-Inca - Inca - Spanish - Independence - Modern Times

Inca

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

There are no remains of this once fabulous city today, but at Ingapirca, close to Cuenca , there is the best preserved Inca site of what once was 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 at 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 for a rescue, Atahualpa died, found guilty by the Spanish of killing his brother. After many Inca generals, such as Calicuchima, Quis Quis and Rumiñahui were defeated, the Inca Empire fell.