The War of Quito

by Pedro de Cieza de León

SEQUEL
(By the Editor.)

THE first part of the War of Quito closes just before the murder of Illan Suarez de Carbajal. It was a final death-blow to the Viceroy’s rule. He knew this himself and no doubt felt sorrow and remorse at his sudden gust of passion. But it was too late. The deed was done.

On assuming the governorship of Peru Gonzalo Pizarro was advised to send envoys to Spain to urge the greatness of his services, explain the course of events, and obtain confirmation of his position. The wise and far-seeing Carbajal alone opposed. He said that the best Procuradores were many arquebuses, soldiers and horses. But it was resolved that Dr Tejada, one of the Judges, should go to represent his colleagues, and Francisco Maldonado for Pizarro. There was only one ship, the one on board of which Vaca de Castro had long been kept a prisoner by the Viceroy. Vaca de Castro was informed of the intention by his relation Garcia de Montalvo. The crew willingly agreed to seize the ship and take Vaca de Castro to Panama, for he was respected and beloved by all on board. So she sailed away, leaving Gonzalo Pizarro furious, for there was no other vessel to take his “Procurators.”

Luckily a brigantine arrived from the port of Arequipa and Dr Tejada, Maldonado, and Bachicao embarked, sailing along the coast. At Payta they heard of the release and landing of the Viceroy.

As soon as the vessel with the Judge Alvarez on board, taking the Viceroy and his brothers to Panama, was well out at sea, there was another act of treachery. Alvarez went to the Viceroy, declared he had only taken charge of him to get him out of the power of his colleague Cepeda, and that now he was free to do as he pleased. The Viceroy took charge, very ungratefully covered Alvarez with abuse, and landed with his few followers.

Bachicao went on to Panama. On his arrival Vaca de Castro, and the Viceroy’s envoys—his brother-in-law Cueto and Zurbano—fled to Nombre de Dios, and embarked for Spain. They were joined by Tejada and Maldonado. But Tejada died during the voyage. Cueto and Maldonado arrived, and went off to the Emperor in Germany to tell their stories. Vaca de Castro landed at Terceira, and went thence, by way of Lisbon, to the Court of Spain. He was falsely accused and imprisoned in the castle of Arevalo for more than five years. Finally he was acquitted, and declared to have been a good ruler. He was restored to his seat in the Royal Council of Castille. Garcilasso saw him at Madrid in the end of 1571. His son Antonio was granted a large repartimiento in Peru.

The Viceroy having landed, managed to get together 150 men and marched to Quito where he was well received, and increased his force by 200 more men. With this force, and a native of Quito named Diego de Ocampo as general, he returned to Piura. The Judge Alvarez was always with him. Gonzalo Pizarro sent Gonzalo Diaz de Pineda and Geronimo de Villegas along the coast to Truxillo and Piura to collect men. They reached Piura, but fled on the approach of the Viceroy and sent the news to Pizarro. The Viceroy made a night march and surprised them, putting them and their followers to flight. Pineda fled alone into the mountains and died of hunger. Villegas escaped to Truxillo, while the Viceroy returned to Piura.

Gonzalo Pizarro, when he received the news that the Viceroy was still in the country at the head of a large force, resolved to attack him without delay. He left Lorenzo de Aldana as Governor of Lima, with 80 arquebusiers. He went himself by sea to Truxillo, with 150 picked officers and men, stores and munitions of war. The rest marched by land. The Judge Cepeda had become a fighting man and a strong partisan of Pizarro. The Audiencia or Court of Justice had ceased to exist, for Alvarez was with the Viceroy, Tejada had gone to Spain, and Zarate remained at Lima, keeping aloof from all recent proceedings.

Pizarro took the royal seal with him, and embarked in March 1545. Landing at Santa he marched to Truxillo, where all the troops were assembled, going thence to the province of Collique. He had 600 men, horse and foot, about the same number as the Viceroy but Pizarro’s were more experienced soldiers. Supplies of all kinds were got together in Collique, and arrangements were made for carrying water across the deserts. On his approach to Piura, the Viceroy made a rapid retreat into the mountains. Pizarro, without entering Piura, followed in pursuit. Each day the work became more severe. Many stragglers from the Viceroy’s force were captured. Reaching Ayahuaca Pizarro halted to rest his men and obtain supplies. The Viceroy continued his march to Quito. Pizarro resumed the pursuit, but the mountain route was extremely difficult. At last he sent Carbajal ahead with 50 mounted men, who reached the enemy’s camp at 4 A.M. The Viceroy got his men into some order and continued his march. At dawn, when he saw the small number of his pursuers, he turned to attack them. His men were perishing with cold and hunger, and Carbajal declined the combat. Fresh troops joined Pizarro under Juan de Acosta[72], and the Viceroy was so closely pressed that he fled with 60 mounted men. He reached Tumibamba where he put his Camp Master Ocampo and several others to death, on suspicion of traffic with the enemy—the captains Geronimo de la Serna and Gaspar Gil.

The Viceroy marched from Tumibamba to Quito without difficulty, where he put three more officers to death. Pizarro sent Juan de Acosta to follow the Viceroy with 60 cavalry.