Battle of Chimborazo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Atahualpa-Huascar conflict
Part of War of the two brothers
Atahualpa the victor
Date Late 1531 Location At Chimborazo, in present-day Ecuador Result Victory for Atahualpa's army, Huáscar forced to retreat Territorial changes Cajamarca retaken, Quito no longer threatened
Combatants
Atahualpans	Huáscarans
Commanders
Atahualpa and generals Chalicuchima and Quizquiz	Huáscar and Cusco generals
Strength
Unknown, probably some 50,000	Unknown, maybe up towards 100,000
Casualties
Unknown, but significally lower than the Huáscarans	Medium to high, what was left retreated

Inca civil wars: Atahualpa-Huáscar conflict, 1527-1532
Chimborazo – Quipaypay fields

The Battle of Chimborazo was the first confrontation between Huascar and Atahualpa. Atahualpa won thanks to good generals and drove Huascar back onto the defensive.
In 1527, Huayna Capac died and left after himself one of the world's mighties empires, more powerful than any european major power. He left the major parts to Huáscar, who in 1531 invaded his brother Atahualpas smaller share (Northern Inca Empire). The capital Cajamarca was occupied, Tumebamba defected, and Atahualpa was captured. However, Atahualpa escaped with the aid of a small girl and united himself with Huayna Capac's generals Quizquiz and Chalicuchima, both skilful, and together they attacked Huáscar near Chimborazo. Although superior in numbers, Huáscar was defeated and forced to retreat and pull back his forces. The very foundations of the superpower was shaken by the defeat, and by the next year, all Cusco dominance came to an end at Quipaipan.

See War of the two brothers.