A conversation about the division of an empire results in a civil war between two sons, Atahualpa and Huáscar.
The following is intended as a supplement to this week's article, Atahualpa: Last of the Incas.
The year is 1526. The old Inca, Huayana Capac, is on the point of dying. He is in his death bed.
Nobody knows exactly what he may have said to his two ambitious sons, Atahualpa and Huáscar, who, let us assume, were called to his bedside just prior to his death.
Perhaps the following exchange in his bed chamber might not have been very far from the truth.
"Look here, my two sons, equal apples of my eye, I'm not long for this world. In fact, I've got very little time left."
"Dear father Inca, say it isn't true!" shouted both sons in unison, each endeavoring to show more passionate conviction than the other.
"Your affection moves me, my sons, but my physician has advised me it is so. You know, the one who will be put to death shortly because he could not promise me more time.
"Now then. It has come to my attention that you boys have been feuding and quarreling, and I know that both of you have designs on inheriting my empire. No -- there's no point in denying it. An Inca has his spies and informers, you know."
"Father, I swear it was Huáscar who--" began Atahualpa.
His father cut him off. "Now, Atahualpa, I don't want to hear about who started what. Save that for someone who is more demented than I am. What I want from both of you is to just shut up for about another five minutes, because I really feel like I'm about to snuff it any second now.
"What I've decided on is to divide up the empire into two equal halves. Each of you will get to rule his own half-sized empire. And so all I ask is that you two boys go along with this, shake hands and promise to be good to one another. Family feuds can be so unbecoming."
Perhaps the old Inca died before his two sons could make their promise to him, because shortly after he died, Atahualpa and Huáscar went to war for the possession of the entire empire. A civil war had been declared.
Atahualpa eventually came out on top, but with the result that the empire was weakened.
