Túpac Amaru, Last Sapa Inca, Neo-inca

Túpac Amaru (1545-1572) was the last indigenous Sapa Inca of the Neo-Inca State, remnants of the Inca Empire in Vilcabamba. In spring of 1572,... more

by British Library

Title

Túpac Amaru, Last Sapa Inca, Neo-inca

Artist

British Library

Medium

Photograph

Description

Túpac Amaru (1545-1572) was the last indigenous Sapa Inca of the Neo-Inca State, remnants of the Inca Empire in Vilcabamba. In spring of 1572, Viceroy Francisco de Toledo decided to attack and conquer Vilcabamba. The Inca people attempted to lift the siege held by the Spanish and their native allies but each time they were forced to retreat. The Spanish had the city destroyed, and the last remnants of the Inca Empire, the Neo-Inca State officially ceased to exist. Túpac Amaru was eventually captured, convicted of murder and sentenced to be beheaded. As he mounted the scaffold it was reported by the same witnesses that a "multitude of Indians, who completely filled the square, saw that lamentable spectacle [and knew] that their lord and Inca was to die, they deafened the skies, making them reverberate with their cries and wailing." Image taken from page 118 of "Recuerdos de la Monarquia Peruana, ó bosquejo de la historia de los Incas, etc" by Justo Sahuaraura, 1850.

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March 8th, 2017