Rumiñahui, Ruminavi, Rumiñagui, or alternatively Rumiaoui, born late 15th century, died June 25, 1535, was an Inca warrior who, after the death of Emperor Atahualpa, led the resistance against the Spanish in the northern part of the Inca Empire (modern-day Ecuador) in 1533.
Born in Pillaro in the modern province of Tungurahua, Ecuador, his given name was Ati II Pillahuaso. Inca historians tend to believe that he was Atahualpa's half brother, born from a native noble woman. When Francisco Pizarro imprisoned Atahualpa and held him in the Ransom Room, Rumiñahui marched towards Cajamarca to deliver a huge amount of gold. But when the Spaniards broke their word, executing Atahualpa and slaughtering his troops, Rumiñahui returned to the kingdoms of Quito and is believed to have ordered the Treasure of the Llanganatis thrown off a cliff into a lake or crater.
Learning of Rumiñahui's resistance, Pizarro sent his lieutenant Sebastián de Benalcázar North to take Quito and bring whatever treasure he could recover. The forces of Rumiñahui and Benalcázar met at the Battle of Mount Chimborazo, where Rumiñahui was defeated. However, before the Spanish forces captured Quito, Rumiñahui ordered it burned to the ground, and the Ñusties (temple virgins) killed to preserve their honor. Rumiñahui was eventually captured, tortured and killed by the Spanish but never revealed the location of the treasure.
"Rumiñahui" is a nickname. In Kichwa in means "eye of stone," interpreted by some to reference his firm stance against the Spanish at the Battle of Mount Chimborazo.
In 1985 the Ecuadorian Congress made December 1 of every year a day of remembrance for the personality of Rumiñahui as an indigenous hero and defender of the Kingdom of Quito.
Rumiñahui's portrait was the prominent image on the front of the 1,000 Ecuadorian sucre note.