Huáscar

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Huáscar (illustration from the 19th century)

Huáscar [ 'waskar ], in Peruvian Quechua spelling Waskar (also Waskhar , * around 1500 ; † 1533 ), the name means "chain" in Quechua , was the twelfth ruler of the Inca Empire . He was the son of Sapa Inka Huayna Cápac and half-brother of his later mortal enemy Atahualpa .

Atahualpa justified his claim to the northern part of the Inca empire with the claim that Huyana Cápac, who resided in Quito, had intended to divide the empire, Huáscar was to rule in Cusco , Atahualpa in the northern Quito .

When Huáscar first recognized this claim, but then rejected it, a fratricidal war broke out, which ended with the capture of Huáscar and the sacking and partial destruction of Cusco, since Atahualpa and his officers, despite their kinship with Huáscar, also followed the tradition of the Scyr (the the conquest by both grandfathers Túpac Yupanqui ruling dynasty in Quito) and thus avenged themselves on Cuzco. Huáscar had to witness the murder of his entire family and his court. Shortly afterwards Atahualpa was captured by a coup d'état by a small group of Spaniards , but retained his authority. Huáscar, who found himself in the hands of Atahualpa's army, was murdered - most likely on the orders of Atahualpa's, which prevented the Spaniards from allying with him. More detailed information on the war and its course can be found in the article on Atahualpa .

The ironclad Huáscar , built in Great Britain for Peru in 1865 , was named after him.

Individual evidence

  1. Wolf-Eckhard Gudemann (Red.): Lexicon of history. Orbis, Niedernhausen / Ts 2001, ISBN 3-572-01285-6
predecessor Office successor
Huayna Cápac
Wayna Qhapaq
Inca emperor
1527 - 1532
Atahualpa
Atawallpa