Atoc or Atoq (Quechua for "fox") was an Inca prince, general and brother of the Inca emperor Huáscar.[1][2]

After the death of Huáscar's father, Huayna Capac, Atoc was sent north (probably in 1529) to quell the separatists under Huáscar's half-brother Atahualpa.[2] Atahualpa was defeated in the Battle of Chillopampa Plains and captured, but managed to escape and set up a new army.[3]

Another battle was fought at Chimborazo, and this time Atahualpa emerged as victor and Atoc was captured.[4] Atahualpa's general Chalkuchimac reportedly had Atoc mutilated and killed, either by having his head being put to use as a goldened chicha cup[1][2] or his eyes being torn out and left alone on the field of defeat. His and his co-general Hango's hides were allegedly carved off and used as drums.

Shortly after, Atahualpa recaptured Tumebamba and Cajamarca and, in April of the following year, Atahualpa's generals seized Cuzco.

References

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  1. ^ a b Brundage, Burr Cartwright (1963). Empire of the Inca. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806119243.
  2. ^ a b c MacQuarrie, Kim (6 December 2012). The Last Days Of The Incas. Little, Brown Book Group. ISBN 9781405526074.
  3. ^ Canseco, Maria Rostworowski de Diez (1999). History of the Inca Realm. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-63759-6.
  4. ^ Seaman, Rebecca M. (27 August 2013). Conflict in the Early Americas: An Encyclopedia of the Spanish Empire's Aztec, Incan, and Mayan Conquests. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 9798216064749.