Destruction of the Inca Empire: Atahualpa's Point of View

I have just received word that men who call themselves "Spanish Conquistadors" have been chicken poaching in my lands. This could be at the worst possible time, since I have just smashed a revolution pursued by my own brother, Huascar. My father was on his death bed and wanted to divide the empire between both of us. Neither of us would have this. We went to civil war and I came out on top. I did not like it, but it had to be done. I am now the leader of the people of the Sun, the Inca empire. The men are led by a man named Francisco Pizarro who recently set up the first Spanish settlement named Piura in the lands of the empire. They have sent a messenger to speak of their yearnings. I will make them wait a few days before I go meet them in Cajamarco.

I have just met with the messengers that this Francisco Pizarro has sent. There were two men: a holy man named Vincente de Valcerde, and their interpreter named Felipillo. They spoke on the behalf of the Spanish Empire and a man named Jesus Christ. They have created a paper they called the "requirement" which calls for the conversion of our religion towards the worship of this Jesus Christ, they call it Christianity. They tell me that if I refuse their offer that I will be considered an enemy of the Church of Christianity and the Holy Roman Empire led by the Holy roman Emperor, Charles V.

I spit on their offer. How can these men, who number less than 200, actually think I will become a worshipper of a dead man. My army numbers over 80,000 warriors, I am in control here. They say that this Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind, regardless he is still dead. I prefer to worship the sun and the moon, which cannot die and are eternal. In addition, there is no king greater than I, this Charles V sounds like a great prince to control the power to sail across the many great seas, I offered to befriend him, but the refusal of their religion infuriated the men. I am a free man, I will make decisions as I choose, and I will not be the slave of anyone. I am a great king, the son of Huayna Capac, the ruler of the Inca empire, I am Atahualpa and I will be no man's tributary!

Although I have refused the proposal of these aliens, I wonder if I have made an immense error. This king has the power to travel the deep waters. I must thing about what will happen to me and my people; after all I am their king. I will not become submissive to their threats, I am in control here. I have a greater army, I know the lands better, and I am in control. But I must try to maintain peace, since I don not know the power that they possess. Maybe they are after gold and silver, maybe I can convince them to leave or to peace by giving them these precious treasures of my empire. I personally don't like their settlement that they have established in my lands, but my actions must proceed with caution.

It seems that the Spanish brute, Francisco Pizarro, was planning a surprise attack on me upon my refusal of their "requirement". According to Spanish law, they have that right. When I asked them about their authority on the subject, that rotten scum of a holy man placed a book called the Bible in my hands. He told me that their rights were derived directly from this holy book. I looked at this book, which speaks of the heaven and the earth and the creation of life by a divine spirit called God. I wondered why I didn't see my name in this book. To me this book was more worthless than the conquistadors who enter my lands; when I threw the book to the ground they opened fire upon my people, killing over 2000 of my warriors and capturing me. I am now prisoner, imprisoned at the Temple of the Sun. What am I to do now?

I have talked to their leader, this infamous Francisco Pizarro, who holds me in this prison. Although it is quite odd, considering I am their prisoner, but they let me live the freedoms of life. I am able to communicate with my people and my Generals but I still desire my freedom. Maybe if I give them something they want, they will release me, and leave my lands. I know what they want, what every man wants, gold and silver. I believe this is what they desire since I have heard the men talk about a famous place called El Dorado. An empire that is full of riches, gold, silver, and precious stones. I will feed their greed and will make an offer they can not refuse. I will offer them an entire room filled with gold, and two more filled with silver.

Praise to the Sun and the Moon they have accepted my offer, I will soon be a free man. I have seen Pizarro's face; it was as if he had seen a ghost. He was stunned; once the money is delivered I will be a free man.

I don't understand, I have given them the gold but I am still a prisoner. Pizarro has gone back on his offer. Do they want more gold? Do they want all of it? I have come to realize that gold was not the only thing they want or that they are after. I have come to understand that they might want to take over my entire civilization but they cannot do that without me. But wait, they might be able to use my brother Huascar, I must do something about this or they might end my life and install Huascar as a "puppet" leader of the Inca. I know what I will do, I will tell my troops to execute my brother so the Spaniards will have no choice but to keep me alive. And once I am back in power I will conquer the conquerors.

Today they came in and told me that they will take me to trial for the sins I have committed. What sins have I committed? This is my land and they are the aliens here. I was here first, they have no right to do this but they keep referring to this Bible that they worship so much. This book says it gives them the power to do as they will. They say I will be put to trial because I have killed my own brother, for practicing idolatry and revolting against the empire of Charles V.

They are taking to me to trial, is if it really matters. The man that will be judging is none other than Pizarro. They have also given me a defense attorney who will try to defend me against their prosecutor. I am sure that no matter what I will be found guilty and I will be executed, and with me the noble race of the Inca. The trial is now over and I stood no chance. They say that for the sins I have committed I will be burned at the stake! This cannot happen; this must not happen! If I am to be burned at the stake my soul will not pass into the afterlife. The residence of the gods, the place where I belong, I will not get to go there. What a life I have lived.

The Spanish holy man, Valverde, came to me again and preached to me the same shit at Cajamarca. He told that if I were to convert to Christianity, accept Jesus Christ as my savior, and pray to the Holy Bible that I will be excused from the incineration they plan for me. I have accepted their offer they are now taking me to the lake to become "baptized". They say that once the baptism has been conducted I will be executed by hanging. This is much better than being burned at the stake. At least this way I will enter the residence of the god and my forefathers in the after life.

Today is the last day I will experience life; it is August 29, 1533. I take this time to reflect upon the entire situation I have placed in the past year. As I look back upon the situation I believe that have made many grave errors. I have handled the situation poorly and it has now resulted in the destruction of not only me but of my empire. My army was greater than theirs, my power greater than theirs. They only had 200 troops, some horse, some native allies that numbered 1000, traitors to the Inca Empire, and followers of my brother Huascar. I had over 80,000 soldiers in my army, countless horses. I was more powerful. I should have had a meeting with them, and took them as prisoners. I should have killed Pizarro and took his gold and weapons. I have made many grave errors and it is time to pay for them. It is strange how time works. If I would have acted sooner and with more caution I would have the upper hand I would not be in this position. It is now time to die, at least they are not going to burn me, they think I worship Jesus Christ, bullshit. The Sun and Moon will open the doors of heaven and allow the great Atahualpa to pass through the threshold and into the afterlife.