 Part
2 - First Steps Towards Conquest
It was
early in the sixteenth century that tidings of the golden
empire in the south reached the Spaniards, and more than one
effort was made to discover it. But these proved abortive,
and it was not until after the brilliant conquest of Mexico
by Cortes that the enterprise destined for success was set
on foot. Then, in 1524, Francisco Pizarro, Almagro, and
Father Luque united their efforts to pursue the design of
discovering and conquering this rich realm of the south. The
first expedition, sailing under Pizarro in 1524, was unable
to proceed more than a certain distance owing to their
inadequate numbers and scanty outfit, and returned to Panama
to seek reinforcements. Then, in 1526, the three coadjutors
signed a contract, which has become famous. The two captains
solemnly engaged to devote themselves to the undertaking
until it should be accomplished, and to share equally with
Father Luque all gains, both of land and treasure, which
should accrue from the expedition. This last provision was
in recognition of the fact that the priest had supplied by
far the greater part of the funds required, or apparently
did so, for from another document it appears that he was
only the representative of the Licentiate Gaspar de
Espinosa, then at Panama, who really furnished the money.
The next
expedition met with great vicissitudes, and it was only the
invincible spirit of Pizarro, which carried them as far as
the Gulf of Guayaquil and the rich city of Tumbez. Hence
they returned once more to Panama, carrying this time better
tidings, and again seeking reinforcements. But the governor
of the colony gave them no encouragement, and at last it was
decided that Pizarro should go to Spain and apply for help
from the Crown. He did so, and in 1529 was executed the
memorable "Capitulation" which defined the powers
and privileges of Pizarro. It granted to Pizarro the right
of discovery and conquest in the province of Peru, (or New
Castile as it was then called,) the title of Governor, and a
salary, with inferior honors for his associates; all these
to be enjoyed on the conquest of the country, and the
salaries to be derived from its revenues. Pizarro was to
provide for the good government and protection of the
natives, and to carry with him a specified number of
ecclesiastics to care for their spiritual welfare.
On
Pizarro's return to America, he had to contend with the
discontent of Almagro at the unequal distribution of
authority and honors, but after he had been somewhat
appeased by the efforts of Pizarro the third expedition set
sail in January, 1531. It comprised three ships, carrying
180 men and 27 horses--a slender enough force for the
conquest of an empire.
After
various adventures, the Spaniards landed at Tumbez, and in
May 1532, set out from there to march along the coast. After
founding a town some thirty leagues south of Tumbez, which
he named San Miguel, he marched into the interior with the
bold design of meeting the Inca himself. He came at a moment
when Peru was but just emerging from a civil conflict, in
which Atahuallpa had routed the rival and more legitimate
claimant to the throne of the Incas, Huascar. On his march,
an envoy from the Inca met Pizarro. They were inviting him
to a visit with him in his camp, with no friendly intent.
This coincided, however, with the purpose of Pizarro, and he
pressed forward. When his soldiers showed signs of
discouragement in face of the great dangers before them,
Pizarro addressed them thus:
"Let
every one of you take heart and go forward like a good
soldier, nothing daunted by the smallness of your numbers.
For in the greatest extremity God ever fights for His own;
and doubt not He will humble the pride of the heathen, and
bring him to the knowledge of the true faith, the great end
and object of the Conquest." The enthusiasm of the
troops was at once rekindled. "Lead on!" they
shouted as he finished his address. "Lead on wherever
you think best! We will follow with goodwill; and you shall
see that we can do our duty in the cause of God and the
king!"
They had
need of all their daring. For when they had penetrated to
Caxamalca they found the Inca encamped there at the head of
a great host of his subjects, and knew that if his uncertain
friendliness towards them should evaporate, they would be in
a desperate case. Pizarro then determined to follow the
example of Cortes, and gain possession of the sovereign's
person. He achieved this by what can only be called an act
of treachery; he invited the Inca to visit his quarters, and
then, taking them unawares, killed a large number of his
followers and took him prisoner. The effect was precisely
what Pizarro had hoped for. The "Child of the Sun"
once captured, the Indians, who had no law but his command,
no confidence but in his leadership, fled in all directions,
and the Spaniards remained masters of the situation.
They
treated the Inca at first with respect, and while keeping
him a prisoner, allowed him a measure of freedom, and free
intercourse with his subjects. He soon saw a door of hope in
the Spaniards' eagerness for gold, and offered an enormous
ransom. The offer was accepted, and messengers were sent
throughout the empire to collect it. At last it reached an
amount, in gold, of the value of nearly three and a half
million pounds sterling, besides a quantity of silver. But
even this ransom did not suffice to free the Inca. Owing
partly to the malevolence of an Indian interpreter, who bore
the Inca ill will, and partly to rumors of a general rising
of the natives instigated by the Inca, the army began to
demand his life as necessary to their safety. Pizarro
appeared to be opposed to this demand, but to yield to his
soldiers, and after a form of trial the Inca was executed.
But Pizarro cannot be acquitted of responsibility for a
deed, which formed the climax of one of the darkest chapters
in Spanish colonial history, and it is probable that the
design coincided only too well with his aims.
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