Pizarro Captures the Inca Emperor: Atahualpa Walks Into a Trap
Spanish forces unleashed gunfire and cavalry charges against the stunned Incans at Cajamarca, shattering the morale of an army that outnumbered them 450 to one and scattering their professional warriors without a counterattack. This ambush secured the capture of Emperor Atahualpa, whose survival as a hostage rather than immediate death allowed Francisco Pizarro to leverage his position for gold and ultimately dismantle the Inca Empire from within.
November 16, 1532
494 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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