SPANISH CONQUEST OF ECUADOR

It was the 1520's in Panama; the Pacific Ocean had just been discovered. Opportunities abound and many men were acquiring considerable wealth. Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador in is mid-40's, heard a story of an El Dorado the king incredibly wealthy southern city full of gold. He decided to seek the fortune by leading two expeditions down the coast of South America in search of El Dorado. Along the coast he encountered some Incas whose gold adornments, convinced him the fabled kingdom existed. Francisco returned to Spain to secure the king's authority to conquer the land and become its new governor.

Meanwhile in Ecuador the Incan civil war was between Huáscar & Atahualpa had greatly diminished the strength of the Incan Empire. Millions of civilians as well as most of Huáscar's generals and military personal from both sides died in the years of battles leaving the kingdom vulnerable to the Spanish.

In 1532 Francisco and his small army returned to South America from Spain. He came up with a plot to find his riches. In Cajamarca a town in northern Peru, Francisco invited Atahualpa, the Emperor of the Incas, and his nobles to a feast.

A thousand Incas arrived excited to meet their new visitors whom they thought were gods. Francisco's army, fewer than 200 men, lay in wait and surrounded their unarmed guests. Francisco asked Atahualpa if he would accept the rule of the Spanish Crown and the faith of the Christian Gods. Atahualpa and the Incas refused. The army using swords, horses and cannons seized the guests and they killed most of the Inca leaders within 30 minutes.

The Emperor was left alive and held for ransom. The Inca offerings came from all over the kingdom and quickly filling one room with gold and two more with silver the rooms paying the equivalent to $100 million in today's money. Though ransom was paid, Francisco decided to betray them. He set up a trial where Atahualpa was convicted of crimes including polygamy, the worshiping of false gods and crimes against the king. The Conquistadors baptized Atahualpa and executed him on August 29, 1533.

GALAPAGOS HISTORY

Discovery of the Galapagos Islands
Whalers in Galapagos
Charles Darwin visits Galapagos
Early Colonists - Settlement of Galapagos

ECUADOR HISTORY

Pre Columbian History
Inca Empire Extends to Ecuador
Spanish Conquest of Ecuador
Royal Audience of Quito - Spanish Rule
Republic of Ecuador
Modern Ecuador History