The Rest Is History 648. The Fall of the Incas: Battle for the Sacred City (Part 5)
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Mar 2, 2026 A dramatic uprising sparked by Spanish abuses and the public humiliation of an Incan leader. The siege of Cusco unfolds with massive Inca forces and desperate Spanish defenders. Cavalry clashes save coastal strongholds while brutal reprisals and political opportunism reshape power. The story ends with a retreat into the jungle and a new exile court.
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Spanish Misrule Sparked The Uprising
- Spanish behavior—looting, sexual violence, and distributing encomiendas—eroded Inca goodwill and provoked resistance.
- Pizarro's land grants (encomiendas) and soldiers' mistreatment of women transformed occupiers into despised rulers.
Spanish 'Test' For Consenting Girls
- The Spaniards used a crude test for when a girl was 'old enough' by hitting her with a rolled cape to see if she remained upright.
- This exemplified everyday coercion and humiliation fueling Inca anger against their supposed allies.
Manco's Call To Arms And Secret Planning
- Manco summoned chiefs in November 1535 to denounce Spanish abuses and swear to drive them out or die trying.
- He used kipus and secret preparations to coordinate a mass mobilization for Lares in the Sacred Valley.