The 1570 document Relación de la conquista del Peru serves as a rare primary account of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire from the perspective of an indigenous elite. Penned by Titu Cusi Yupanqui, this narrative provides a firsthand look at the confusion and cultural misunderstandings that occurred during the initial Spanish invasion of the territory.
The Rise of the Neo-Inca State
Born in Cusco in 1526 to Manco Inca Yupanqui, Titu Cusi assumed a position of leadership within the remnants of the Inca Empire. Following the death of his half-brother Sayri Túpac, he was crowned as the Inca ruler of Vilcabamba in 1563. He held the position of Vilcabamba Inca from 1560 until 1570, operating as the penultimate leader of the Neo-Inca State during a volatile period of colonial expansion.
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During his tenure, the provisional governor-general Lope Garcia de Castro sought to bring Titu Cusi into the fold of the Spanish colonial administration. These negotiations focused on the possibility of Cusi abandoning Vilcabamba in exchange for a Crown pension. As political tensions escalated around 1568, Titu Cusi underwent baptism into the Catholic Church, taking the name Diego de Castro.
Documentation and Historical Legacy
In 1570, Titu Cusi narrated his account of the Spanish arrival to the missionary Fray Marcos García. His mestizo assistant, Martín de Pando, transcribed the oral history into a hybrid text. The manuscript describes his father Manco Inca’s reaction to the arrival of bearded, white strangers who possessed silver plates and spoke to papers, leading many to initially identify the invaders as divine Viracochas.
Death and Succession
Titu Cusi died in 1571 at Vilcabamba. His death followed a period of illness reportedly contracted after a fencing match with his companion, Martín de Pando. While some accounts attributed his demise to pneumonia or smallpox, others suspected poisoning, leading to the executions of both Pando and the Augustinian Friar Diego Ortiz. Following his death, Túpac Amaru, who had been serving as a priest and custodian of Manco Inca's body, ascended to the leadership.
Fast facts
- Born: 1526, Cusco
- Died: 1571, Vilcabamba
- Positions held: Emperor; Vilcabamba Inca (1560-1570)
- Languages: Classical Quechua, Early Modern Spanish
- Father: Manco Inca Yupanqui
- Eldest son: Quispe Titu (born 1550)
- Baptismal name: Diego de Castro
Questions readers ask
What is the significance of Titu Cusi's written work?
His 1570 text offers a unique, direct account of the Spanish invasion from an Inca elite perspective, specifically detailing how the indigenous population perceived the arrival of the Spaniards.
Who succeeded Titu Cusi as leader?
Túpac Amaru became the Inca ruler following Titu Cusi's death in 1571.
