Túpac Amaru executed - September 24, 1572

The last indigenous ruler of the Inca, Túpac Amaru, was executed by the Spanish on this day in 1572.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This Day in History Class is a production of I
Heart Radio. Hi, I'm Eves and Welcome to This Day
in History Class, a show that uncovers a little bit
more about history every day. Today is September. The day

(00:24):
was September seventy two. Tupac Amdu, the last indigenous ruler
of the Inca, was executed in Cuzco by the Spanish
in fifteen thirty three. Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and his
forces captured and killed Incan emperor Atahualpa. He was the

(00:44):
last Sapa Inca or sovereign emperor, believed to be a
direct descendant of the gods, though later rulers of the
Neo Inca state considered themselves Sapa Inca. After his death,
the Inca Empire effectively collapsed. Pissaro and his forces proceeded
to march on Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire,

(01:05):
and occupied the city. From there, the Spanish continued in
their quest to conquer and colonize Peru. The Spaniards had
cavalry guns, swords, and steel armor, and many Incans sided
with them, but the Inca, who were loyal to the empire,
did attempt to resist Spanish colonization. Originally a puppet ruler

(01:27):
installed by Pissaro Manco, Inca Yupanky rebelled against the Spanish
and formed his own army. He and his followers were
not able to retake Cusco, but they did establish a
Neo Inca state in Buca Bamba, a remote region east
of Cusco. The Neo Inca state functioned as a seat

(01:47):
of resistance. Manco and his supporters were not a serious
threat to the Spanish, but Bilka Bamba was a concern
to colonial officials. After Manco's rule ended in the Neo
incast eight, he was succeeded by his son Saari tupac
then Titucusi Panky then tupac Amaru. Tupac Amaru became the

(02:09):
Inca ruler after Titukuzzi died in fifteen seventy one. While
Titucusi fortified bilk Obamba and did not go to Cuzco,
he did eventually relent and was baptized into the Roman
Catholic Church. Tupac Amaru, though opposed Christianity and Spanish rule.
Churches in bilk Obamba were destroyed, Spaniards there were killed,

(02:33):
and the borders were closed, but the Spaniards in Cuzco
were not aware of the changes in bilk Obamba. After
a Spanish diplomat returning to build Obamba from Cuzco was killed,
the Spaniards justified attacking the Inca by concluding that they
had quote broken the inviolate law observed by all nations
of the world regarding ambassadors. Vice Roy Francisco de Toledo

(02:57):
declared war on bilk Obamba and fifty seventy two. When
the Spanish got to real Cabamba in June, the city
was destroyed. In tupac Amaru was gone, but Spanish soldiers
pursued the Inca who had fled and captured Tutikusi's son
and wife, tupac Amadu's relatives in generals, as well as
other prisoners and valuable items. With the help of a

(03:20):
group of indigenous people, tupac Amaru and his wife were captured.
The captured were sent to Cusco in late September. The
Spaniards attempted to convert the captives to Christianity. Tupac Amadus
generals were sentenced to death by hanging. After a hurried trial,
tupac Amaru was convicted of murder and sentenced to be beheaded,

(03:43):
though many people were sure that he was innocent. According
to one account, tupac Amaru was riding a mule with
his hands tied behind his back on the day of
his execution. Others said that he was surrounded by hundreds
of guards with lances. There are stubb all reported versions
of the speech Tupac a Madu gave as he prepared

(04:03):
to die on the scaffold on September. After he was executed,
his head was reportedly put on a pike along with
the heads of his generals. After locals began honoring tupac
Amdu at the sight of his severed head, the viceroy
ordered that his head be buried with his body. The
Spanish had colonized Peru. Incan culture and the land were

(04:26):
drastically affected by the arrival of the Spanish. Europeans carried
diseases that decimated Incan populations and culture and religion was
imposed upon the remaining Incans. I'm each Chef Coote and
hopefully you know a little more about history today than
you did yesterday. You can find us on Twitter, Instagram
and Facebook at t d I h C Podcast. Thanks

(04:51):
again for listening, and I hope you come back tomorrow
for more delicious morsels of history. Yeah. For more podcasts
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