The Spaniards, to relieve their position, decide…
May 1536 CE
The Spaniards, to relieve their position, decide to assault the walled complex of Saksaywaman, which serves as the main base of operations for the Inca army.
Fifty horsemen, led by Juan Pizarro, and accompanied by Indian auxiliaries, break through the Inca army files, turn around, and attack Saksaywaman from outside the city.
During the frontal assault against the building's large walls, a stone strikes Juan Pizarro in the head; he will die days later from the injury sustained.
The following day, the Spaniards resist several Inca counterattacks and mount a renewed assault at night using scaling ladders.
In this way, they manage to capture the terrace walls of Saksaywaman while the Inca army holds on to the two tall towers of the complex.
The Inca commanders, Paucar Huaman and the high priest or Willaq Umu, decide to leave the confinement of the towers and fight their way towards Calca, the site of Manco Inca's headquarters, to bring back reinforcements.
The attempt is successful and the towers are left under the command of Titu Cusi Gualpa, an Inca nobleman.
However, despite Titu's fierce resistance, the Spaniards and their auxiliaries manage to storm the towers so that when the Inca commanders return, Saksaywaman is firmly under their control.