One of the earliest chronicles of the Inca empire was written in the 1550s by Juan de Betanzos. Although scholars have long known of this work, only eighteen chapters were actually available until the 1980s when the remaining sixty-four chapters were discovered in the collection of the Fundacion Bartolome March in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Narrative of the Incas presents the first complete English translation of the original manuscript of this key document. Although written by a Spaniard, it presents an authentic Inca worldview, drawn from the personal experiences and oral traditions told to Betanzos by his Inca wife, Dona Angelina, and other members of her aristocratic family who lived during the reigns of the last Inca rulers, Huayna Capac Huascar and Atahualpa. Betanzos wrote a history of the Inca empire that focuses on the major rulers and the contributions each one made to the growth of the empire and of Inca culture. Filled with new insights into Inca politics, marriage, laws, the calendar, warfare, and other matters, Narrative of the Incas is essential reading for everyone interested in this ancient civilization.
Roland Hamilton is Professor of Spanish at San Jose State University. Dana Buchanan is a professional translator.
List of Maps and Figures Introduction: Juan de Betanzos and Inca Traditions Note on the Translation Measurements Preface Prologue Part One I. Contiti Viracocha, the Creator II. The Creation of the People and the Departure of Contiti Viracocha III. Cuzco and the Creation of the Noble Class IV. Ayar Manco Settles in Cuzco V. From Manco Inca to Viracocha Inca VI. Viracocha Surrenders to Uscovilca VII. Yupanque Decides to Resist VIII Yupanque Defeats Uscovilca IX. Yupanque Offers the Victory to His Father X. Yupanque Divides the Spoils XI. Yupanque Builds the Temple of the Sun XII. Yupanque Consolidates the Empire XIII. Division of Cuzco and the Marriage of the Single Men XIV. The Creation of the Warrior Class XV. Yupanque Creates the Calendar and the Feasts XVI. Yupanque Rebuilds Cuzco XVII. The Death of Viracocha Inca XVIII Yupanque's Conquests XIX. Yupanque Defeats the Soras XX. Yupanque Conquers Collasuyo XXI. Yupanque Creates Laws for Cuzco XXII Yupanque Provisions His Realm XXIII. Life of the Inca Yupanque XXIV. Yupanque Sends His Sons to Conquer Chinchasuyo XXV. Yamque Yupanque Returns from the Wars XXVI. The Birth of Huayna Capac XXVII. Topa Inca XXVIII Topa Inca Conquers Andesuyo XXIX. Yupanque Divides His Property XXX. Yupanque Ordains Certain Ceremonies XXXI. Yupanque Arranges His Funeral XXXII The Death of Yupanque XXXIII. Topa Inca Puts Down a Rebellion XXXIV. Topa Inca Names the Governors of the Provinces XXXV. Topa Inca Defeats His Enemies and Goes to Chile XXXVI. Topa Inca Returns to Cuzco; the Death of Yamque Yupanque XXXVII. Topa Inca Builds the Fortress of Cuzco XXXVIII Topa Inca Builds Chinchero XXXIX. The Death of Topa Inca XL. Huayna Capac Sends Out Inspectors XLI. Huayna Capac Reorganizes the Empire XLII. Huayna Capac's Inspection of the Region around Cuzco XLIII. Huayna Capac Builds Monuments XLIV. Huayna Capac Learns of His Mother's Death XLV. The Birth of Atahualpa and Huascar XLVI. The Birth of Cuxi Yupanque XLVII. The Birth of DoNa Angelina XLVIII. Huayna Capac Dies in Quito Part Two I. Huascar Is Named Inca II. Atahualpa Sends Gifts to Huascar III. Huascar Sends Hango Against Atahualpa IV. Hango's Defeat and Death V. Atahualpa Punishes the CaNares VI. Atahualpa Accepts the Royal Fringe VII. Atabualpa's Victories over Huascar VIII. Chalcochima and Quizquiz Achieve Victory IX. The Inca Atahualpa Leaves Quito X. Atahualpa Punishes the Yungas XI. The Defeat of Huascar's Forces XII. Huascar Raises an Army in Cuzco XIII. Initial Victory for Huascar XIV. Huascar's Capture XV. Chalcochima Defeats Huascar's Army XVI. Atahualpa Destroys the Guaca at Guamacbuco XVII. Atahualpa Learns of Pizarro's Arrival XVIII. Quizquiz and Chalcochima Enter Cuzco XIX. Cuxi Yupanque Punishes Atahualpa's Enemies in Cuzco XX. Pizarro Sends a Messenger to Atahualpa XXI. Pizarro Arrives at Cajamarca XXII Pizarro Awaits Atahualpa XXIII. Atahualpa's Capture XXIV. Huascar's Death XXV. Pizarro Sends Three Spaniards to Cuzco XXVI. Atahualpa's Death XXVII. Pizarro Names Topa Gualpa As Inca XXVIII. Pizarro Names Manco As Inca XXIX. Manco Inca and Vilaoma Plot a Rebellion XXX. Manco Inca Escapes from Hernando Pizarro XXXI. Manco Inca Lays Siege to Cuzco XXXII. Manco Inca's Death XXXIII. Saire Topa Is Named Inca XXXIV. Juan de Betanzos Meets with Viceroy Hurtado de Mendoza Notes Glossary Index
"Betanzos was probably the only chronicler who understood the real nature of the Inca political system... He has a marvelous story to tell, especially about the Spanish conquest from the Inca point of view." -- R. Tom Zuidema, author of Inca Civilization in Cuzco
For over 400 years, de Betanzos's work was known only in an 18-chapter fragment, but recently the translators of this volume have discovered the complete manuscript. Their translation and compilation of several old variants provides the most accurate and intelligible version available of de Betanzos's narrative. . . . This translation is a triumph of historical scholarship and a treasure for scholars . . . . (Library Journal)
