Quizquiz, by means of an impressive march…

May 1534 CE

Quizquiz, by means of an impressive march led by overcoming difficulties of all kinds, not only strategic, but also and mainly logistical, has led the several thousand men comprising his army beyond the boundaries of the ancient kingdom of Quito, where he plans to find support and allies.

Arriving in the land of Quito to organize a brave resistance, and possibly a war of reconquest, he is bitterly surprised to find a Spanish contingent that had preceded him, coming from San Miguel, under the leadership of Sebastián de Belalcázar.

After Peru falls to the Spanish, both Pizarro and Almagro initially work together in the founding of new cities to consolidate their dominions.

As such, Pizarro has dispatched Almagro to pursue Quizquiz.

Their fellow conquistador Belalcázar, who had gone forth without Pizarro's approval, had already reached Quito and witnessed the destruction of the city by Rumiñawi, who had ordered the city to be burned and its gold to be buried at an undisclosed location where the Spanish could never find it.

The arrival of Pedro de Alvarado from Guatemala, in search of Inca gold further complicates the situation for Almagro and Belalcázar.

The troops of Alvarado, who is traveling the country seeking Rumiñawi and other opponents, encounter the army of Quizquiz in random fashion.

A Spanish detachment collides with a patrol sent out by Quizquiz and their leader, Sotaurco, put to torture, is forced to reveal the army’s location.

The Spaniards move with alacrity.

By forced march, traveling at night by the light of torches and stopping only to shoe their horses, they come unexpectedly in view of the marching army.

Quizquiz is obviously surprised, but as consummate strategist acts with surprising speed.

Before the enemy came in contact, he had already divided his army into two parts.

One, with all the warriors, was launched on the slopes of a hill and stood in defense.

The other, conducted by him personally, with most of the provisions and the women, attempt to move in another direction.

As Quizquiz had foreseen, the Spaniards launch an assault,, but those under the command of brother of Atahualpa, Huaypalcon, keep them at bay by rolling an avalanche of stones from the top.

During the night, the two defending armies merge and the Spaniards pursue but are stopped at the crossing of a river that separates the contenders.

The natives even attack by setting up a bridgehead on the bank defended by the Spanish and inflict casualties on their enemy.

As the news comes that a nearby indigenous detachment has killed and beheaded fourteen Spaniards who were trying to rejoin their compatriots, the Spanish force elects to retire.

Alvarado's presence, however, does not last long, as Pizarro buys him off for a reputed one hundred thousand gold pesos, and he returns with his expeditionary force to Guatemala.