Quizquiz or Quisquis was, along with

Chalcuchimac Chalcuchima (originally written Challcochima or Challcuchima, also called Chalcuchímac, Calcuchímac or Challkuchimaq in modern sources; born in the latter part of the 15th century; died Cajamarca, Peru, 1533) was, along with Quizquiz and Rumi ...

and Rumiñawi, one of

Inca The Inca Empire, officially known as the Realm of the Four Parts (, ), was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political, and military center of the empire was in the city of Cusco. The History of the Incas, Inca ...

emperor

Atahualpa Atahualpa (), also Atawallpa or Ataw Wallpa ( Quechua) ( 150226 July 1533), was the last effective Inca emperor, reigning from April 1532 until his capture and execution in July of the following year, as part of the Spanish conquest of the In ...

's leading

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

s. In April 1532, along with his companions, Quizquiz led the armies of Atahualpa to victory in the battles of Mullihambato,

Chimborazo Chimborazo () is a stratovolcano situated in Ecuador in the Cordillera Occidental (Ecuador), Cordillera Occidental range of the Andes. Its last known Types of volcanic eruptions, eruption is believed to have occurred around AD 550. Although not ...

and Quipaipan, where he, along with Chalkuchimac defeated and captured

Huáscar Huáscar (; Quechua: ''Waskar Inka'') also Guazcar (before 15271532) was Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire from 1527 to 1532. He succeeded his father, Huayna Capac and his brother Ninan Cuyochi, both of whom died of smallpox during the same year ...

and promptly killed his family, seizing capital

Cuzco Cusco or Cuzco (; or , ) is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountain range and the Huatanay river. It is the capital of the eponymous province and department. The city was the capital of the Inca Empire unti ...

. Quizquiz later commanded Atahualpa's troops in the battles of Vilcaconga,

(both 1533) and Maraycalla (1534), ultimately being bested by the

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

forces in both accounts. After the ensuing battles, Quizquiz fled further into the safety of the

Andean The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long and wide (widest between 18°S ...

mountains, but his forces soon demanded that he accept the Spanish demands, and, it being planting season, that they be able to return to their families. Quizquiz refused, and his war-weary troops eventually killed him in 1535.

Origin of the name

Quizquiz is a

Quechua Quechua may refer to: *Quechua people, several Indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru *Quechuan languages, an Indigenous South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language ...

term, which stands for ''leader'' or ''Little Bird'' par excellence. According to some authors instead, the surname means ''barber'' and derives from his duty to shave the King

Huayna Capac Huayna Capac (; Cuzco Quechua: ''Wayna Qhapaq'' ) (before 14931527) was the third Sapa Inca of Tawantinsuyu, the Inca Empire. He was the son of and successor to Túpac Inca Yupanqui,Sarmiento de Gamboa, Pedro; 2015, originally published in Sp ...

that the General had exercised, both for his dexterity and for Huayna Capac's total confidence so that he would not have liked to offer his throat to anyone else.

Biography

Military triumphs

His first military experience was gained in the army of Huayna Capac, in campaigns in North, where he distinguished himself for his outstanding military skills. On the death of the eleventh ''Sapa Inca'', Quizquiz remained in the wake of his son

, assuming the chief command of the armies of

Quito Quito (; ), officially San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city, capital and second-largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its metropolitan area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha Province, P ...

, contrasted with those of

devoted to

Juan de Betanzos ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish and Manx versions of '' John''. The name is of Hebrew origin and has the meaning "God has been gracious." It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking countries around the world and in the Phili ...

reports in his ''Narrative of the Incas'' that during the civil war Quizquiz led troops of 60,000 against Huáscar's troops.Betanzos, J., 1996, Narrative of the Incas, Austin: University of Texas Press, As supreme commander he organized, together with another prestigious general

, war against Cuzco. Quizquiz was responsible for the significant defeat and capture of Huáscar, where Huáscar planned to use a decoy advance guard that was to be later joined by the body of the army, however this decoy was destroyed before the rest of the army could join it. Defeating in several battles the armies of Huáscar, they achieved the final victory with the storming of the Inca Empire capital.Prescott, W.H., 2011, The History of the Conquest of Peru, Digireads.com Publishing, As he was proceeding to the consolidation of power for Atahualpa in the region of Cuzco, the news came of the tragedy of Cajamarca and the capture of his master by the Spanish. Atahualpa then had Chalcuchimac stay with half of his warriors in

Jauja Jauja (Shawsha Wanka Quechua: , or , formerly in Spanish , with pronunciation of "x" as "sh") is a city and capital of Jauja Province in Peru. It is situated in the fertile Mantaro Valley, to the northwest of Huancayo (the capital of Junín ...

, and Quizquiz with the other half in Cuzco.Pizzaro, P., 1571, Relation of the Discovery and Conquest of the Kingdoms of Peru, Vol. 1-2, New York: Cortes Society, RareBooksClub.com,

Meeting with the Spanish

Quizquiz was in Cuzco at the time of the Spaniards' arrival. Collecting the

ransom Ransom refers to the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release. It also refers to the sum of money paid by the other party to secure a captive's freedom. When ransom means "payment", the word ...

, Atahualpa had convinced

Francisco Pizarro Francisco Pizarro, Marquess of the Atabillos (; ; – 26 June 1541) was a Spanish ''conquistador'', best known for his expeditions that led to the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Born in Trujillo, Cáceres, Trujillo, Spain, to a poor fam ...

to send three soldiers in the capital to personally check on the collection of gold. The three, Martín Bueno, Pedro Martin de Moguer and Pedro de Zárate, were treated honorably, despite their far from blameless behavior. The rude soldiers ventured to desecrate the temples and undermine the Virgins of the Sun, but the instructions from Atahualpa did not allow any appropriate measures to be taken against the three.

Fight against invaders

Pizarro selected

Túpac Huallpa Túpac Huallpa (alternatively ''Tupaq Wallpa'' or ''Huallpa Túpac)''; before July 1533 – October 1533), original name Awki Wallpa Túpaq, was the first vassal Sapa Inca installed by the Spanish conquistadors, during the Spanish conquest of ...

as the next Inca, but soon this Inca died.

Manco Inca Manco Inca Yupanqui (1544) was the founder and first Sapa Inca of the independent Neo-Inca State in Vilcabamba, Peru, Vilcabamba, although he was originally a Puppet government, puppet Inca Emperor installed by the Spaniards. He was also known ...

then joined Pizarro on his march to Cuzco. In November 1533, Quizquiz was defeated in the

battle of Cuzco The Battle of Cusco was fought in November 1533 between the Spanish Conquistadors and forces of the Incas. The Battle After executing the Inca Atahualpa on July 26, 1533, Francisco Pizarro marched his forces to Cusco, the capital of the Inca ...

and abandoned the Inca capital. He decided to withdraw towards Quito. The Spaniards occupied only three locations in Peru when the armies moved from Cuzco to Quito. One was the city of Cuzco itself, the second was the town of

, entrusted to the treasurer Riquelme, and the third was the recent settlement of San Miguel which ensured the flow of reinforcements by sea. Quizquiz attacked Cuzco first, but Pizarro sent Almagro and fifty men to confront the attack. The Spaniards "killed and wounded many of them." Quizquiz then decided to attack the garrison of Jauja, on the road to Quito, but was "unable to prevail against the Spaniards" there either. The rainy season had swelled rivers and was sufficient to demolish the bridges on the most tumultuous rivers to secure the rear from the arrival of Cuzco followers. The clash ensued between the army of Quito and fifty Spanish Juaja backed by thousands of indigenous friends. Quizquiz had developed strategies that worked against the Spanish, but he still had to learn to deal with the cavalry. His men carried out a pincer movement, but the impetus of the horses swept their ranks. The day, however, was not an easy one for the Spanish troops. Riquelme was himself wounded in the head and fell into the river, where he was rescued by a group of indian archers of the

Antisuyu Antisuyu ( , ; ) was the eastern part of the Inca Empire which bordered on the modern-day Upper Amazon region which the Asháninka, Anti inhabited. Along with Chinchaysuyu, it was part of the ''Inca Government#Organization of the empire, Hanan ...

. One Spaniard was killed and almost all other reported injuries as their auxiliary natives were decimated by the troops of Quito. Northern troops still managed to pass Jauja, while regretting that it could not conquer the city defended by a small garrison. Quizquiz had learnt from the experience and venturing in a ravine he fortified the slopes of the passage so that horses could not work, then he remained on hold. Reinforcements from Cuzco came upon a few weeks later, under the command of

Hernando de Soto Hernando de Soto (; ; 1497 – 21 May 1542) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who was involved in expeditions in Nicaragua and the Yucatan Peninsula. He played an important role in Francisco Pizarro's conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru, ...

and

Diego de Almagro Diego de Almagro (; – July 8, 1538), also known as El Adelantado and El Viejo, was a Spanish conquistador known for his exploits in western South America. He participated with Francisco Pizarro in the Spanish conquest of Peru. While subduing ...

, accompanied by many Indians, sent by

Manco Inca Yupanqui Manco Inca Yupanqui (1544) was the founder and first Sapa Inca of the independent Neo-Inca State in Vilcabamba, Peru, Vilcabamba, although he was originally a Puppet government, puppet Inca Emperor installed by the Spaniards. He was also known ...

, elected meanwhile supreme Inca. Learned that Quizquiz was close, the Spaniards threw themselves boldly forward, but this time the shrewd general was not waiting for them unprepared. The defenses worked fine and their charges shattered against the properly prepared fortifications. While worryingly studying what to do, the ''

conquistador Conquistadors (, ) or conquistadores (; ; ) were Spanish Empire, Spanish and Portuguese Empire, Portuguese colonizers who explored, traded with and colonized parts of the Americas, Africa, Oceania and Asia during the Age of Discovery. Sailing ...

'' learned that the armies had abandoned their positions and headed north. Quizquiz, obviously, wanted to regain the region of Quito. The Spanish moved in pursuit, but proceeding with great caution and fighting only limited clashes with the marching rearguard, then, when it became clear that the enemy abandoned the region, desisted from following them. Quizquiz had solved the immediate problem of the pursuers, but his difficulties were not over. He had to open a way through districts infested by hostile populations, related to the deceased Huáscar and hoping for a comeback thanks to the arrival of "white men" who, were seen as liberators. Nevertheless, Quizquiz led the several thousand men who composed his army beyond the boundaries of the ancient kingdom of Quito, where he planned to find support and allies.

Last battle

Arriving in the land of

to organize resistance, he found that a Spanish contingent had preceded him, coming from

San Miguel San Miguel, Spanish for Saint Michael, may refer to: Places Argentina *San Miguel Partido *San Miguel, Buenos Aires * San Miguel, Catamarca * San Miguel, Corrientes * San Miguel, La Rioja *San Miguel Arcángel, a Volga German colony in Adolfo Al ...

, under the leadership of Belalcázar. They were then followed by other armies commanded by Almagro and

Pedro de Alvarado Pedro de Alvarado (; 1485 – 4 July 1541) was a Spanish conquistador, ''conquistador'', ''adelantado,'' governor and Captaincy General of Guatemala, captain general of Guatemala.Lovell, Lutz and Swezey 1984, p. 461. He participated in the c ...

. It was precisely the troops of Alvarado, who travelled the country looking for Rumiñawi and other opponents, to encounter the army of Quizquiz randomly. A detachment of them collided with a patrol of Quizquiz and their leader, Sotaurco, put to torture, was forced to reveal its location. Convinced of holding the enemy, the Spaniards moved with haste. By forced march, travelling at night by the light of torches and stopping only for shoeing horses, they came unexpectedly in view of the marching army. Quizquiz divided his army into two parts. One, with all the warriors, was launched on the slopes of a hill and stood in defence. The other, conducted by him personally, with most provisions and women, attempted a retreat. As foreseen, the Spaniards launched the assault of enemy warriors, but those under the command of one of Atahualpa's brothers named Huaypalcon, kept them at bay by rolling down stones from the top of the hill. During the night, the two Inca armies merged. The Spanish host pursued them, but were stopped at the crossing of a river that separated the contenders. As the news came that a nearby indigenous detachment had killed and beheaded fourteen Spaniards who tried to reinforce their compatriots, they decided to retire. Quizquiz had won, but this was to be his last battle.

Death

After encountering the armies of Almagro and Alavarado, Quizquiz still took part in many fights, but soon realized that the circle of the enemy was closing in on him. Quizquiz may have attempted to prosecute a guerrilla war, but the area to which he aimed to lead his troops was wild and unexplored. Although they were guaranteed some security in case of attack, it involved the certainty of suffering hunger, given the large number of men to be supplied. Quizquiz's helpers were all opposed to this decision, but the stubborn general, stressed and angry for their resistance, accused them of cowardice. According to Pedro Cieza de Leon, "Quizquiz went with the Huambracuna back to Quito, without having accomplished anything that he had intended. He had been praised for being a very brave and wise captain and of good judgment. The very Huambracuna who went with him killed him near Quito in the village of Tiamcambe." His warriors wanted peace so they could return home, but he refused. "Huaypalcon attacked him, and others joined in with battle axes and clubs and killed him."Leon, P., 1998, The Discovery and Conquest of Peru, Chronicles of the New World Encounter, edited and translated by Cook and Cook, Durham: Duke University Press, "Thus fell the last of the two great officers of Atahualpa."

References

{{reflist

Eyewitnesses of early wins

* Miguel de Estete **''Relación the viaje ... desde el pueblo de Caxmalca a Pachacamac. (1533)'' In Ramusio Einaudi, Torino 1988 **''Noticia del Perú (1540)'' In COL. LIBR. DOC. HIST. PERU (2 nd series Volume 8 °, Lima 1920) * Francisco de Jerez ''Verdadera relación de la conquista del Perú (1534)'' In Ramusio Einaudi, Torino 1988 *

Pedro Pizarro Pedro Pizarro (c. 1515 – c. 1602) was a Spanish chronicler and conquistador. He took part in most events of the Spanish conquest of Peru and wrote an extensive chronicle of them under the title ''Relación del descubrimiento y conquista de ...

''Relación del descubrimiento y conquista de los Reynos del Perú. (1571)'' in BIBL. AUT. ESP. (Volume CLVIII, Madrid 1968) * Pedro Sancho de Hoz ''Relatione di quel che nel conquisto & pacificatione di queste provincie & successo...& la prigione del cacique Atabalipa. (1534)'' In Ramusio Einaudi, Torino 1988

Other historians

Pedro Cieza de León Pedro Cieza de León ( Llerena, Spain c. 1518 or 1520 – Seville, Spain July 2, 1554) was a Spanish conquistador and chronicler of Peru and Popayán. He is known primarily for his extensive work, ''Crónicas del Perú'' (The Chronicle of Peru), ...

** ''Segunda parte de la crónica del Perú (1551)'' In COL. CRONICA DE AMERICA (Dastin V. 6°. Madrid 2000) ** ''Descubrimiento y conquista del Perú'' (1551) in COL. CRONICA DE AMERICA (Dastin V. 18°. Madrid 2001) *

Bernabé Cobo Bernabé Cobo (born at Lopera in Spain, 1582; died at Lima, Peru, 9 October 1657) was a Spanish Jesuit missionary and writer. He played a part in the early history of quinine by his description of cinchona bark; he brought some to Europe on a vi ...

''Historia del Nuevo Mundo (1653)'' In BIBL. AUT. ESP. Tomi XCI, XCII, Madrid 1956 * Garcilaso de la Vega ** ''Commentarios reales (1609)'' Rusconi, Milano 1977 ** ''La conquista del Peru (1617)'' BUR, Milano 2001 *

Francisco López de Gómara Francisco López de Gómara (February 2, 1511 – c. 1564) was a Spanish historian who worked in Seville, particularly noted for his works in which he described the early 16th century expedition undertaken by Hernán Cortés in the Spanish conqu ...

''Historia general de las Indias (1552) ''In BIBL. AUT. ESP. (tomo LXII, Madrid 1946) *

Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés (August 1478 – 1557), commonly known as Oviedo, was a Spanish soldier, historian, writer, botanist and colonist. Oviedo participated in the Spanish colonization of the West Indies, arriving in the first fe ...

''Historia General y natural de las Indias'' 5 Vol. in IBL. AUT. ESP. (tomi CXLVI - CLI), (Madrid 1991) *

Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas (1549 – 28 March 1626 or 27 March 1625) was a chronicler, historian, and writer of the Spanish Golden Age, author of ''Historia general de los hechos de los castellanos en las Islas y Tierra Firme del mar O ...

''Historia general ... (1601–1615)'' COL. Classicos Tavera (su CD) * Titu Cusi Yupanqui ''Relación de la conquista del Perú y echos del Inca Manco II (1570)'' In ATLAS, Madrid 1988 1535 deaths Inca Empire people 16th-century indigenous leaders of the Americas Indigenous warriors of the Americas Year of birth unknown