Huáscar
The title of this article is ambiguous. For other meanings, see Huáscar (disambiguation).
Huáscar ['waskar], in Peruvian Quechua spelling Waskar (also Waskhar, b. c. 1500; † 1533), the name meaning "chain" in Quechua, was the twelfth ruler of the Inca Empire. He was the son of the Sapa Inca 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 assertion that Huyana Cápac, who resided in Quito, had intended to divide the empire, Huáscar should rule in Cusco, Atahualpa in the more northern Quito.
When Huáscar first acknowledged this claim but then rejected it, fratricidal warfare ensued, ending with Huáscar's capture and the sack and partial destruction of Cuzco, since Atahualpa and his officers, despite being related to Huáscar, also saw themselves in the tradition of the Scyr (the ruling dynasty in Quito before the conquest by both grandfathers, Túpac Yupanqui) and thus took revenge on Cuzco. Huáscar had to witness the murder of his entire family and court.
Shortly thereafter, Atahualpa was captured by a small group of Spaniards in a hand coup, but retained his command. Huáscar, who was in the power of Atahualpa's army, was assassinated - most likely on the orders of Atahualpa, who thus prevented the Spaniards from allying with him.
For more detailed information on the war and its course, see the article on Atahualpa.
The armoured ship Huáscar, built in 1865 in Great Britain for Peru, was named after him.
Huáscar (representation from the 19th century)
Questions and Answers
Q: Who was Inti Cusi Huallpa Huáscar?
A: Inti Cusi Huallpa Huáscar was the emperor of the Inca empire from 1527 to 1532 AD.
Q: How did Inti Cusi Huallpa Huáscar become emperor?
A: Inti Cusi Huallpa Huáscar succeeded his father Huayna Capac and brother Ninan Cuyochi.
Q: Why was the Inca empire divided between Huáscar and Atahualpa?
A: The empire was divided between the two surviving brothers, Huáscar and Atahualpa, after the death of their father and older brother.
Q: What parts of the empire did Huáscar and Atahualpa each get?
A: Huascar got the major part of the empire with the capital Cusco, and Atahualpa got the northern parts, including Quito.
Q: Why did the civil war between Huáscar and Atahualpa begin?
A: Huascar demanded that Atahuallpa swear an oath to him, and Atahuallpa refused, leading to the civil war.
Q: How many men did each side have in the civil war between Huáscar and Atahualpa?
A: Atahualpa's commander led armies of 100,000 men, while about 60,000 men supported Huáscar.
Q: How did the civil war contribute to Francisco Pizarro's success in the Inca empire?
A: The civil war weakened the Inca empire and gave Francisco Pizarro an advantage when he arrived.
