Figure 1.--The Spanish garison in Cuzco escaped destruction at the hands of Manco's army by taking refuge in the massive Saksaywaman. This was a massive stone fort on a hill over-looking Cuzco. Some of the gigantic stones used to build the fort are the size of small houses. How the Incas moved them is a mystery. Here we see Peruvian kids in Inca/colonial dress (except for the jeans). You can see a corner of Saksaywaman to the right.

Manco Capac/Inca II (1516-44) ws also known as Manco Inca Yupanqui. He was one of the sons of Huayna Cápac and a younger brother of Huascar who had ward with Atahualpa, their half brother, for control of the Inca Empire before the arrival of the Spanish. After executing Atahualpa, Pizaro needed a pupet ruler to replace Atahualpa and help govern the Empire--a Quizling in modern terms. The first puppet Inca crowned by Pizarro was Túpac Huallpa. After his death, Manco Inca reached Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro in Cajamarca. Pizarro saw Manco as useful. The civil War between Husacar and Atahualpa had created a great deal of illwill and divided the Inca ruling class. Thus some Of Husacar's supporters and family were willing to support Manco. The Spanish then proceeded on to Cusco, the Inca capital. Pizarro's required the caciques their to ackowledge Manco as their new Inca. Manco Inca then joined Almagro and Hernando de Soto in pursuit of Quizquiz, one of Atahualpa's generals resisting Spanish control. We know little about Manco Capac II's expectations. He was still a teenager with apparenly little political experience at the time Pizarro executed. And like oyjer mmbers of Huascar's clan saw an opportunity to regain royal status. Apparently he thought that he would be the next Inca with real authority. Gradually he came to a realization that Pizarro would never permit this. Pizarro was able to control the situation for nearly 3 years using Manco as a figure-head Inca. One source indicates that he was at first accepted because Cuzco had favored Huascar. Pizarro after consolidated his control, established a new capital at Lima (1535). Pizarro permitted Manco to hold court in Cuzco, but surrounded by the Spanish he was a virtually powerless figurehead monarch. This was exacerbated by the disrespect even abuse with which he and his court was treated by the Spanish. His abusive treatment at the hands of the Spanish led him to plan a revolt. Hus first attempt at escape failed, but te second suceeded. He immediately began planning a campaign to drive the Spaniards out of Cuzco. He escaped from Cuzco and Pizarro's control (1536) and declared himself monarch (Sapa Inca) of the independent Neo-Inca State. He amassed a huge army. Some reports describe over 100,000 warriors. Manco then laid siege to the Pizarro in Cuzco. He came very close to victory. Only a daring Spanish breakout from Cuzco and an assault on Saksaywaman (there are various spellings) saved the Spanish. This was a stone fortress on a hill over looking Cuzco. Manco retreated to Ollantaytambo and then into the jungle at Vilcabamba.

Created: 9:05 AM 9/29/2015
Last updated: 9:05 AM 9/29/2015