The Ransom Room (El Cuarto del Rescate) is a small building located in
Cajamarca, Peru. It is considered to be the place where the Inca Empire came
to an end with the capture and eventual execution of the Inca Emperor
Atahualpa.
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Entrance to the Ransom Room
The Ransom Room is next to the Church of San Francisco.
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The Battle of Cajamarca
When Francisco Pizarro arrived in Cajamarca on November 15, 1532, he
sent a messenger to Atahualpa, proposing they meet in the main plaza.
Pizarro decided to send a friar, Vincente de Valverde, along with an
interpreter (Felipillo) to speak with Atahualpa.
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The next day, on November 16, 1532, Friar Valverde presented himself
to Atahualpa and explained through the interpreter the mysteries of
Catholic religion, and that, on account of their heathenism, the pope
had granted Atahualpa's kingdom to the Spaniards. Atahualpa professed
not to understand the tenor of this discourse, and would not resign
his kingdom, saying he would "be no man's tributary." Upon hearing
this, the friar gave a Bible to Atahualpa, who, after merely observing
it and turning a few pages, threw the book on the floor.
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Atahualpa then demanded a full account of the presence of the
Spaniards in his land.
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At this point Pizarro and his forces decided to come out on horseback
with firearms, causing many of Atahualpa's army to flee upon hearing
the sounds of artillery and arquebus. Many natives died as they tried
to fight against the better-armed Spaniards.
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Thereafter, Pizarro went on to look for Atahualpa himself, who was
shielded by his faithful nobles who, in the end, were also captured by
the Spaniards.
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The Ransom of Atahualpa
After the battle of Cajamarca, Atahualpa offered Pizarro to buy his
liberty by filling the room where he was kept prisoner with gold and the
two following rooms with silver, up to the level of the reach of his
arm. The room was 6.70 m (22 feet) long and 5.18 m wide (17 feet) long,
while the red line marking the height of the Inca's reach, was 2.75 m (9
feet) high. Atahualpa also offered to twice fill a smaller room with
silver, asking for two months to do so.
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The total collection of the gold, after being melted down into
standard ingots, and before division amongst the Spaniards, amounted
to 1,326,539 pesos de oro, worth 15,500,000 in 1847 U.S. dollars. This
equates to nearly half a billion dollars in today's money.
- The silver amounted to 51,610 marks.
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Some of the most beautiful articles were saved for the emperor's royal
fifth, which included vases, imitations of plants and animals, and a
fountain.
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The Trial of Atahualpa
The Inca now demanded to be set free. Diego de Almagro demanded the
Inca's death, necessary for peace and in the interests of the Spanish
crown, though Pizarro and Hernando de Soto were reluctant.
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Pizarro finally conceded to a trial, acting as a judge alongside
Almagro. The twelve charges included usurpation of the crown,
assassination of his brother Huáscar, squandering public revenues,
idolatry, adultery, and attempting to incite an insurrection.
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He was found guilty and sentenced to be burned alive that night.
Father Vincente de Valverde signed the judgement stating, "in his
opinion, the Inca, at all events, deserved death."
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The Execution of Atahualpa
Two hours after sunset on 29 Aug. 1533, the Inca was prepared to be
burned at the stake, when Friar Valverde offered death by garrote, if
Atahualpa would consent to be baptized.
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The Inca agreed, assuming the name Francisco Atahualpa in honor of
Francisco Pizarro.
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His last requests to Pizarro were that his remains be transported to
Quito, and that he have compassion on his children.
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After Atahualpa was executed, the end of the "Tahuantinsuyo" (Inca
Empire) was near, with the Spanish conquest of Peru.
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Panorama of the Ransom Room
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Inscription on the main door sill
«Main room of the house of the chief of the seven guarangas of
Caxamarca, which is the same one that, according to common tradition,
Atahualpa offered to fill with gold and silver in exchange for his
ransom… No one can give any information about the shape of its door: the
one shown here is the one it has at present. Its roof was almost flat
with a slight slope. The said chief made it out of scissors… To give the
water more current… He raised the walls a little higher with adobe.
Baltazar Martinez de Compañon. 1782.»
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Interior of Atahualpa's room
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The limit of the ransom
The inscription on the back wall reads: «The red line marks the limit of
the ranson».
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Main door jambs
The inscription on the right door jamb reads: «Niche destroyed around
1700».
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View of the left side of the room
On the left side of the photo we can see the inside of the side door of
the room.
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Walking towards the side door
Walking from the main door to the side door of the room.
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Original floor
The inscription on the floor reads: «Original floor».
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Interior of the room seen from the side door
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Execution stone block
Stone block on which Atahualpa was allegedly executed.
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Church of San Francisco
The Church of San Francisco seen from the Ransom Room.
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See also
Source
Location
