On November 16, 1532, the Spanish explorer and conquistador, Francisco Pizarro encountered the Incan emperor, Atahuallpa. Pizarro led a force of 62 calvary and 106 foot soldiers. Atahuallpa led an army of approximately 80,000. The battle lasted only a few minutes. Pizarro's force suffered no casualties. Atahuallpa lost upwards of 7,000. Atahuallpa was surrounded by his chiefs and counselors, and they were all killed, and Atahuallpa was taken captive by Pizarro.

Atahuallpa offered his famous ransom - enough gold to fill a room 22 feet by 17 feet to a height of 8 feet. When the gold was delivered, Pizarro broke his promise and executed Atahuallpa.

Within six years of this battle, the Incas mounted two large-scale rebellions against the Spanish which were doomed because of the superior European armament. The vast Incan Empire was bled dry, its wealth and art gone.