History of the Conquest of Peru

William H. Prescott

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN:
  9780486440071
• eBook ISBN:
  9780486149844
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

In a series of episodes as fantastic as any fiction, a powerful civilization crumbled at the hands of a small band of warriors. Written by one of America's great historians, this gripping chronicle draws upon the firsthand accounts of eminent sixteenth-century captains and statesmen to relate the overthrow of the Inca empire by the Spanish adventurers under Pizarro’s command.
Author William H. Prescott's immensely readable narrative crackles with drama as he characterizes both conqueror and conquered. Rich in vivid anecdotes, it recaptures the glories of Inca society before European contact, and it paints fascinating portraits of the conquistadors and their courage, cruelty, and pride. Prescott's reconstructions of the attitudes and motivations behind the tumultuous events of the Spanish conquest offer memorable, insightful views of New World history that have made this book a popular classic.

INDEX

A.

Abancay, river of, battle with Peruvians, at Battle between Almagro and Alvarado on Passage of, by Gasca

Aborigines of North and South America

Acosta, note, note.

Adelantado, title of, given to Pizarro Relinquished by him to Almagro.

Adultery, punished with death by Peruvian laws note.

Adventure, impulse given to, by improvements in navigation. Romantic character of, in the New World. Perils attendant on. On the northern and southern continents of America.

Agave Americana.

Agrarian law perfectly carried out in Peru.

Agricultural products, great variety of, in Peru Introduced into that country, note.

Agriculture, importance and excellence of Peruvian. Supervised by the Inca himself. In the valleys. On sides of the sierra.

Aldana, Lorenzo de. Sent on a mission to Spain by Gonzalo Pizarro. Takes sides with Gasca. Despatched by him to Lima. His proceedings there.

Almagrian faction, proceedings of. Driven from Cuzco. At Lima.

Almagro, town of.

Almagro, Diego de. His agreement with Pizarro and Luque. Makes preparations for a voyage. Sails from Panamá Loses an eye at Pueblo Quemado. Meets Pizarro at Chicamá. Returns to Panamá. Has a difficulty with Pedrarias. His interview with him, note. His contract with Pizarro and Luque. Unable to sign his name. Sails with Pizarro. Is sent back for reinforcements. Rejoins Pizarro. Sails with him along the coast. Quarrels with him. Returns to Panamá for recruits. Ill received there. Sends a letter to Pizarro. Exerts himself in his behalf. Urges his mission to Spain. Honors granted by the Crown to. Pizarro’s neglect of the interests of. His dissatisfaction with him. Frank and generous temper of. Hernando Pizarro’s jealousy of. Remains at Panamá, to send supplies to Pizarro. Joins him in Peru. Cordially received by him. Receives no share of the Inca’s ransom. Urges Atahuallpa’s death. Felipillo hanged by, note. Detached to aid De Soto. Sent against Quizquiz. Follows Benalcazar to Quito. Negotiates with Pedro de Alvarado. Goes to Cuzco. Powers conferred on, by the Crown. His elation. His difficulties with the Pizarros. Enters into a solemn compact with Francis. Sets out for Chili. Difficulties of his march. Traverses the desert of Atacama. Claims jurisdiction over Cuzco. Seizes the city. Takes Gonzalo and Hernando Pizarro prisoners. Refuses to put them to death. Battle of Abancay. Leaves Cuzco. Has an interview with Pizarro. Makes a treaty with him. Retreats toward Cuzco. His illness. Pursued by Hernando Pizarro. Battle of Las Salinas. Taken prisoner. Brought to trial by Hernando Pizarro. Condemned to death. Begs for his life. Is executed in prison. His character.

Almagro, the younger, his birth and character. Named his successor by his father. Pizarro’s treatment of. Proclaimed governor of Peru. Seizes the money of the Crown. His reluctance to hostilities with the governor. His difficulties with his followers. Attempts to negotiate with Vaca de Castro. Addresses his troops. Leaves Cuzco. Rejects the governor’s terms. Battle of Chupas. His bravery. Taken prisoner. Executed.

Alpacas. See Sheep, Peruvian.

Alva, Duke of, note.

Alvarado, Alonso de. Sent to the relief of Cuzco. At Xauxa. Highly trusted by the Pizarros, note. Defeated and taken prisoner by Almagro. Escapes from Cuzco. At the battle of Las Salinas. Informs Vaca de Castro of the state of Peru. At the battle of Chupas. Sent to Panamá by Gasca. Leads a force to Lima.

Alvarado, Diego de, brother of Pedro. Befriends Hernando Pizarro. Maintains the cause of Almagro in Spain. His death.

Alvarado, Garcia de, quarrels with Sotelo. Puts him to death. Killed by Almagro.

Alvarado, Geronimo de.

Alvarado, Pedro de, arrival of, in Peru. His terrible passage of the Puertos Nevados. Letter of, note. Negotiates with Almagro at Quito. Bonus paid to, note. Visits Pizarro at Pachacamac. His death, note. Pizarro’s letter to.

Alvarez, sent with Blasco Nunez to Spain. Liberates the viceroy.

Amautas, Peruvian teachers.

Amazon, the river of, reached by Gonzalo Pizarro. Voyage of Orellana down. Adventures of Madame Godin upon, note.

America, the name, note. Effects of discovery of. Adventure in. Northern and southern sections of. Rapid exploration of the eastern coast of.

Añaquito. Battle of, note.

Andagoya, Pascual de, expedition of. Memorial of his adventures by, note. His accounts of the Peruvian empire, note. Pizarro learns his route from.

Andaguaylas, Gasca encamps at.

Andes, Cordillera of theand note. Cultivation of the sides of. Salubrity of plateau of. Conjectures respecting the origin of the name. Pizarro’s passage of. Alvarado’s passage of.

Anglo-Saxon race, objects sought by, in New World. Adapted to the North American continent.

Annals, Peruvian, how kept and transmitted. Much tinged with fiction.

Apostles, the supposed authors of American civilization, note.

Apurimac, passage of, by Gasca’s army.

Aqueducts, Peruvian. Remains of. Seen by Spaniards.

Arch, use of, unknown to Peruvians.

Architecture, illustrates national character. Characteristics of Peruvian. Inconsistencies in it.

Archives, Peruvian, how constituted.

Arequipa, Almagro arrives at. Taken possession of by the Almagrian faction. Memorial of the Municipality of. Gonzalo Pizarro builds galleys at. Retires to, from Lima.

Armour of the Peruvians.

Arms, used by Peruvians, note, note. Manufactured at Cuzco by Almagro; by Blasco Nuñez, at Popayan.

Arms, family, of Pizarro.

Army, number of Pizarro‘s. Gonzalo Pizarro’s.

Arquebuse, astonishment of the Peruvians at.

Art, specimens of Peruvian.

Artillery, park of, possessed by young Almagro.

Astrology.

Astronomy, Peruvian. Inferior to that of other American races.

Atacama, desert of, crossed by Almagro.

Atahuallpa. Receives half his father’s kingdom. His restless spirit. Makes war on his brother. Ravages Cañaris. Is victorious at Quipaypan. Takes Huascar prisoner. Story of his cruelty. Sole Inca of Peru. Sends envoys to Pizarro. His reception of Pizarro’s messengers. His camp. Interview of Hernando Pizarro with. Visits Pizarro at Caxamalca. His interview with Valverde. Taken prisoner. In captivity. His personal appearance. His treatment of the Christian religion. Offers a ransom. Expects to recover his freedom, note. Puts Huascar to death. Accused of causing a rising of his subjects. His interview with Challcuchima. State maintained by him. His forebodings. Refused his liberty. Brought to trial. Accusations against him, note. Sentenced to be burned. His emotion. Led to execution. Is baptized. Perishes by the garrote. His character. Funeral obsequies. His remains. Reflections on the treatment of. Opinions of chroniclers respecting it. Influence of his death in Peru. His successor.

Athenians, marriage custom of, note.

Audience, Royal, first appointment and purpose of. Sent to Peru with Blasco Nuñez. Arrive at Lima. Differ from the viceroy. Threatened by him. Take him prisoner. Send an embassy to Gonzalo Pizarro. Resign their power into his hands. Judges of, characterized by Blasco Nuñez, note.

Avila, Pedro Arias de. Founds Panamá. Discoveries made by. Expeditions of. Refuses to aid Almagro. Resigns his interest in Pizarro’s enterprise. Subsequent fate of.

Aztecs, belief of, respecting the soul of the warrior, note. Contrast between the Peruvians and.

B.

Balances, of silver used by Peruvians. For weighing gold, found by Spaniards.

Balboa, Vasco Nuñez de, discovers the Pacific. Hears of the Peruvian empire. Quintana’s account of, note.

Balsas, Indian vessels, note. First seen by the Spaniards, note. Fleet of.

Banana. Prolific nature of, note.

Banquet given to Pizarro by an Indian princess.

Barco de Avila, birthplace of Gasca.

Battles, of Pizarro with Indians. On the isle of Puná. Of Ambato. Of Quipaypan. Of Caxamalca. Of the Abancay. With Quizquiz. On the Yucay. At Cuzco. At Tambo. Of Abancay. Of Las Salinas. Of Chupas. Of Añaquito. Of Huarina. Of Xaquixaguana.

Benalcazar conquers Quito. Appointed governor of Quito. Goes to Castile. Joins Vaca de Castro. His advice to him, note. Sent by him to Popayan. Writes a letter to the emperor on the ordinances, note. Takes sides with Blasco Nuñez. Reinforces him. Advises against a battle with Gonzalo Pizarro. Wounded and taken prisoner. Restored to his government by Pizarr...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF PERU
• PREFACE
• BOOK I - INTRODUCTION VIEW OF THE CIVILIZATION OF THE INCAS
• BOOK II - DISCOVERY OF PERU
• BOOK III - CONQUEST OF PERU
• BOOK IV - CIVIL WARS OF THE CONQUERORS
• BOOK V - SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTRY
• INDEX