Inca

INCA.) In March 1526, a contract for the conquest of Peru was signed by Francisco Pizarro, Diego de Almagro and Hernando de Luque. In 1527 Pizarro landed at Tumbez. The next year he went to Spain, and in 1531, with his brothers returned to Tumbez. The civil war between Huascar and Atahualpa, sons of Huayna Capac, had been fought out in the meanwhile, and the victorious Ata hualpa was at Cajamarca, whither Pizarro with 183 men made his way. On Nov. 15, 1532, after a friendly welcome from the Inca, Pizarro treacherously seized him. In Feb. 1533 Almagro arrived with reinforcements. In spite of fulfilling an agreement to provide a vast ransom in gold and silver, the Inca Atahualpa was murdered on Aug. 29, 1533; in November, Pizarro entered Cuzco. He allowed Manco, the legitimate son of Huayna Capac, to be sol emnly crowned. Almagro then undertook an expedition to Chile, and Pizarro founded the City of Kings (Lima), on Jan. 18, 1535. A dispute arose between Francisco, Juan and Gonzalo Pizarro and Almagro as to the limits of their respective jurisdictions; Al magro was defeated near Cuzco in 1538 and executed. His adher ents recognized his young half-caste son, a gallant youth gen erally known as Almagro the Lad, as his successor. Bitterly dis contented, they conspired at Lima and assassinated Francisco Pizarro on June 26, 1541. Meanwhile Vaca de Castro had been sent out as governor by Charles V. On Sept. 16, 1542, he defeated Almagro the Lad and beheaded him at Cuzco.

Civil Wars.

The "New Laws" code was enacted in 1542 whereby grants of estates (encomiendas) on which the inhabitants were bound to pay tribute and give personal service, reverted to the Crown on the death of the holder. Blasco Nufiez de Vela was sent out in 1544 as first viceroy of Peru to enforce the "New Laws." Their promulgation aroused a storm among the con querors. Gonzalo Pizarro rebelled and entered Lima on Oct. 28, 1544. The viceroy fled to Quito, but was followed and killed in Jan. 1546. The "New Laws" were revoked. Pedro de la Gasca, first president of the court of justice of Peru, arrived in and in April 1548 defeated and executed Gonzalo Pizarro near Cuzco. La Gasca made a redistribution of encomiendas to the loyal conquerors, which caused great discontent, and left Peru before his scheme was made public in Jan. 155o. Don Andres

Hurtado de Mendoza, marquis of Caliete, entered Lima as viceroy on July 6, 1555, and ruled with an iron hand for six years. All leaders in former disturbances were sent to Spain. Magistrates were ordered to execute all turbulent individuals. Unemployed persons were sent on distant expeditions. The viceroy came to an agreement with Sayri Tupac, son and successor of the Inca Manco, and granted him a pension. Schools and towns were founded, wheat, vines, olives and European domestic animals introduced. From this time there was a succession of viceroys until 1824. The splendour of their entourage was unexcelled. Meanwhile, in the sierra, Indians were being exterminated in an extravaganza of destruction.

Viceroyalty.

Don Francisco de Toledo (viceroy 1569-81), fearing that the little court of the Inca Tupac Amaru might prove rebellious, beheaded the last of the Incas at Cuzco in the year 1571. Toledo's Libro de Tasas fixed taxes on the Indians, exempt ing all under 18 and over 5o. In addition to the tribute, there was the mita, or forced labour in mines and farms; he enacted that one-seventh of the male village population was subject to paid conscription for this service, but they were not to be taken beyond a specified distance from their homes. This system has become so ingrained that even now, though the Indian is theoretically free, he is incapable of grasping the fact and continues to regard the patron as lord of the land. The Spanish authorities, although desiring to protect the people, were unable to restrain distant officials and the country was depopulated by the illegal methods of enforcing the mita. Moreover, the colonies suffered from strict trade monopoly of Spain, and from arbitrary proceedings of the Inquisition. Between 1581 and 1776, 59 heretics were burned at Lima, and there were 29 autos da fe. A descendant of the Incas, who assumed the name Tupac Amaru, rose in rebellion in 1780. The insurrection lasted until July 1783; wholesale slaughter followed his defeat.