Huáscar

Huáscar was the twelfth and penultimate Inca emperor, ruling from approximately 1527 until his death in 1532. He was the son of the previous emperor, Huayna Capac, and his principal wife, Rahua Ocllo. Upon his father's death, Huáscar inherited the throne, but his claim was contested by his half-brother, Atahualpa, who had been granted control of the northern territories of the empire.

This dispute over succession plunged the Inca Empire into a devastating civil war. Huáscar, based in the traditional capital of Cusco, represented the legitimate line of succession. Atahualpa, with his power base in the northern city of Quito, commanded a formidable army. The conflict raged for several years, weakening the empire significantly just as the Spanish conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro, arrived.

Initially, Huáscar seemed to have the upper hand, capturing Atahualpa at one point. However, Atahualpa's generals, particularly Rumiñahui, continued the fight. In the final stages of the war, Atahualpa's forces achieved a decisive victory, capturing Huáscar. Shortly after, during the Spanish conquest, Huáscar was executed, likely on Atahualpa's orders or by the Spanish themselves to eliminate a potential rival claimant to the throne. His reign and the subsequent civil war marked a period of immense turmoil and contributed to the rapid downfall of the Inca Empire.