Conquest

 Conquest

Anyone who has ever seen an attack on a beehive, or an ant hill has witnessed the response of the of the bees or ants. The bees or ants attack the attacker with little if any regard for themselves.  Humans are reasoning animals who think of themselves within a group.  History has repeatedly shown us examples of a small well-armed force, prevailing over a much larger, less organized force.  One of the best examples was Pizarro's encounter with the Incas. 

Why bother reading this? A checklist of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” will be made as a test of the validity of his propositions will be a part of the commentary (done in brackets and italics at the end). As state "The Art of War" can be applied to most potential conflicts. 

Background:

Francisco Pizarro, Marquess of the Atabillos (c. 16 March 1478 – 26 June 1541) was a Spanish conquistador, best known for his expeditions that led to the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Pizarro chose to pursue fortune and adventure in the New World. He went to the Gulf of Urabá, and accompanied Vasco Núñez de Balboa in his crossing of the Isthmus of Panama, where they became the first Europeans to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas. He served as mayor of the newly founded Panama City for a few years and undertook two failed expeditions to Peru. In 1529, Pizarro obtained permission from the Spanish crown to lead a campaign to conquer Peru and went on his third, and successful, expedition.

Pizarro mounted 3 expeditions. 

1) In November 1524, the first of three expeditions left Panama for the conquest of Peru with about 80 men and 4 horses. This failed.

2) On 10 March 1526 Pizarro left Panama with two ships with 160 men and several horses, reaching as far as the Colombian San Juan River. Soon after arriving the party separated, with Pizarro staying to explore the new and often perilous territory off the swampy Colombian coasts, while the expedition's co-commander, Almagro, returned to Panama for reinforcements. Pizarro's Piloto Mayor (main pilot), Bartolomé Ruiz, continued sailing south and, after crossing the equator, found and captured a balsa (raft) under sail, with natives from Tumbes. To everyone's surprise, these carried textiles, ceramic objects and some pieces of gold, silver and emeralds, making Ruiz's findings the central focus of this second expedition. Some natives were taken aboard Ruiz's ship to serve as interpreters.

They decided to sail back to the territory already explored by Ruiz and, after a difficult voyage due to strong winds and currents, reached Atacames on the Ecuadorian coast. Here, they found a large native population recently brought under Inca rule. Unfortunately for the conquistadores, the people they encountered seemed so defiant and numerous that the Spanish decided not to enter the land. Pizarro drew a line in the sand, saying: "There lies Peru with its riches; Here, Panama and its poverty. Choose, each man, what best becomes a brave Castilian. For my part, I go to the south." Only 13 men stayed with Pizarro. They later became known as "The Famous Thirteen" (Los trece de la fama)

April 1528, they finally reached the northwestern Peruvian Tumbes Region. Tumbes became the first success the Spanish had so long desired. They were received with a warm welcome of hospitality and provisions from the Tumpis, the local inhabitants. On subsequent days two of Pizarro's men, Alonso de Molina and Pedro de Candia, reconnoitred the territory and both, on separate accounts, reported back the riches of the land, including the decorations of silver and gold around the chief's residence and the hospitable attentions with which they were received by everyone. 

Pizarro sailed from Panama for Spain in the spring of 1528, accompanied by Pedro de Candia, some natives and llamas, plus samples of fabric, gold and silver. Pizarro reached Seville in early summer. King Charles I, who was at Toledo, had an interview with Pizarro and heard of his expeditions in South America. The conquistador described the territory as rich in gold and silver that he and his followers had bravely explored "to extend the empire of Castile". The king, who was soon to leave for Italy, was impressed at his accounts and promised his support for the conquest of Peru. Queen Isabel, though, in the absence of the king, signed the Capitulación de Toledo on 6 July 1529,^[11] a license document that authorized Pizarro to proceed with the conquest of Peru.

3) Hernando Pizarro and de Soto planned to meet with Atahualpa in his camp. Atahualpa agreed to meet Pizarro in his Cajamarca plaza fortress the next day. Fray Vincente de Valverde and native interpreter Felipillo approached Atahualpa in Cajamarca's central plaza. After the Dominican friar expounded the "true faith" and the need to pay tribute to the Emperor Charles V, Atahualpa replied, "I will be no man's tributary." His complacency, because fewer than 200 Spanish remained, as opposed to his 50,000-man army, of which 6,000 accompanied him to Cajamarca, sealed his fate and that of the Inca empire.

Despite fulfilling his promise of filling one room (22 by 17 feet or 7 by 5 metres) with gold and two with silver, Atahualpa was convicted of 12 charges, including killing his brother and plotting against Pizarro and his forces. He was executed by garrote on 29 August 1533. Francisco Pizarro and de Soto were opposed to Atahualpa's execution, but Francisco consented to the trial due to the "great agitation among the soldiers", particularly by Almagro. De Soto was on a reconnaissance mission the day of the trial and execution and upon his return expressed his dismay, stating, "he should have been taken to Castile and judged by the emperor King Charles later wrote to Pizarro: "We have been displeased by the death of Atahualpa, since he was a monarch and particularly as it was done in the name of justice."

By early 1536, Manco Inka, supported by an army of perhaps 100,000 people, initiated a siege of Cuzco. At the same time, smaller Incan expeditionary forces moved to destroy other European strongholds. In the three years of continuous warfare since the arrival of Pizarro, Incan military leaders had become familiar with Spanish military tactics and developed effective counters. Perhaps the most effective of these military innovations was the one that dealt with the Europeans' greatest advantage on the battlefield: horses. Incan soldiers would offer battle but hold their position until the Spaniards had concentrated their cavalry in order to break the indigenous line. They would then fall back before the cavalry charge and draw the Europeans into a canyon where prepositioned forces could crush them under avalanches of rocks and missile weapons. Instead of charging the numerically inferior Europeans as they had done early on, Incan soldiers used their discipline and knowledge of the terrain in order to draw the armoured cavalry charge into a death trap. Well documented battlefield deaths show that many more Spaniards died in these battles than in the early days of the war when theoretically the Inca had a much greater advantage. Despite winning the majority of the battles, the inability of the Incan forces to overwhelm Cuzco's fortifications, manned as they were by only 200 fighting men armed with gunpowder weapons, signalled the definitive victory of Spanish forces.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_ Pizarro

The following is a version from Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs and Steel, which provides more colorful detail of the initial attack on Atahuallpa. (Skip the next 3 paragraphs if you have had enough.)

The historic accounts record that there were over 40,000 plus Indians, and at most several hundred Spaniards.  They met at Cajamca. The Indian camp, looked like a small city.  In front of Atahuallpa, the chief, went 2000 Indians, who swept the road ahead of them and these were followed by warriors half of whom will march ring in the fields on the side of him and half on the other side. Then came a number of men with armor, large metal plates and crowns of gold and silver so great was the amount of furniture of gold and silver that the border that was a marvel to observe how the sun glint upon it.... behind Atahuallpa came to other leaders into hammocks in which were some high chiefs, then several squadrons of Indians with crowns of gold and silver. These Indian squadrons began to enter the Plaza with the accompaniment of great songs, entering and occupied every part of the Plaza.  In the meantime, all the Spaniards were waiting and ready hidden in the courtyard full of fear.... 

Pizarro sent the friar to speak to Atahuallpa to require Atahuallpa " in the name of God and the King of Spain that all to help subject himself to the law of our Lord Jesus Christ and the service of his Majesty the King of Spain.  I'm a priest of God, and I teach Christians the things of God and in the like manner I come to teach you.  What I teach is that which God says to us in this book... I beseech you to be their friend for such as God's will and will be for your good.  Atahuallpa asked for the book that he might look at the friar gave it to him closed. Atahuallpa did not know how to open the book, and with great anger gave the friar a blow on the arm.... Atahuallpa then threw the book to the ground.  The friar returns to Pizarro shouting "Come out Christians! Come at these enemy dogs who reject the things of God.  That tyrant has thrown my book of holy law to the ground.  Did you not see what happened? why remained polite and servile towards us over proud dog when the plains are full of Indians.  Marched out against him, for I absolve you!  

The governor then gave the signal to guns began firing. The trumpets sounded the armor Spanish troops both cavalry near the tree sally forth out of their hiding places straight into a mass of unarmed Indians crowd in the square giving a Spanish Battle cry, "Santiago!" The booming of the guns the blowing of the trumpets and the rattle of the horses threw the Indians and to panic confusion.  The Spaniards fell upon them and began to cut them to pieces.  The Indians were so filled with fear that they fell on top of one another forming mountain suffocated each other. Since they were unarmed, they were attacked without a danger to any Christian. Cavalry rode them down killing and wounding and following them in pursuit.  Most of them were put to the sword.... by the time it was over six or 7000 Indians lay dead. Many more had their arms cut off and another wounds... Atahuallpa was captured." (GGS,Pages 70-73) 

What led to this incredible scene, namely a few hundred overcoming thousands? There are several reasons.  One, the Spanish had a plan of attack prior to scene.  Two with overwhelming manpower superiority the Indians likely never even considered that the Spanish attack.  This was a degree of arrogance on their part.  Three once the attack began, there was no coordination by the Inca leadership to counterattack.  It could be said that eventually, the Spanish would defeat the Incas. " Within a half dozen years of the initial conquest, Incas mounted to desperate large-scale well-prepared rebellions against Spaniards.  All those efforts failed because of the Spaniards far superior armaments." (GGS,Page 76) Nonetheless it is remarkable that hundreds were able to overcome many thousands. 

There are many lessons to be learned.  

·                 A small, well-disciplined force, with strong command structure can prevail over a much larger force.  This how police can disperse large crowds.  The large force may be lacking in appropriate direction to take advantage of their superior numbers.

·                 Superior technology can overcome superior numbers.

·                 Surprise can be a critical advantage.

·                 Individuals will rationalize that charging those with the superior weapons may lead to their own death even if the group as a whole may survive. Ants some bees do not have this worry.

The point of these lessons goes beyond martial superiority.  It is applicable to other situations.  For example, an organized team of researchers may be more effective in solving a particular problem than a widely dispersed group with greater resources.  The team has focus. 

The idea of perspective may have helped the Incas prevail on that day.  The Incas may have set a contingency plan to counterattack the Spaniards, should they attack.  Arrogance was and often is a fatal flaw.  Culture also played a major role.  The Spaniards believed the Incas to be infidels, non-Christians. From the perspective of the Spanish, it was their duty to convert the heathens.  Earlier Pizarro had captured some Indians.  He wanted information from them.  Since they were non-Christian infidels.  It seemed to make the justification of torture much easier.  Pizarro differentiated these humans from Spaniards.  They were not like the Spanish.  They do not worship the same, true God, therefore, an extreme version of it in evangelicalism could be applied.  The end would justify the means.  The power of righteousness was coupled with self-interest.  For God!  For me! For gold and silver! From the perspective of the Spanish the torture, maiming, and even killing could bring these heathens to the true God.  This gives a certain moral justification to conquest. Recall that the friar said he was a priest of God that the Inca rejection justified the Spanish slaughter of the Incas.  Indeed, the friar even said, "I absolve you!"  This may have removed any moral misgivings that the individual Spaniards had. 

Religion has been one of the greatest causes of conflict in the face of the earth.  It helped provide a moral justification for conquest. A lesson learned is that religion can be manipulated to direct people toward a particular end that has very little to do with religion.

(RE:  Sun Tzu: "All warfare is based on deception." 
Pizarro did not make troop movements obvious, 
and it seemed inconceivable to the Incas he would attack their much larger
force.
Specific points: 
Decision making: Pizarro mounted 2 failed expeditions 
where he learned much of his enemy, had translators, proof of riches, a
permission from the Emperor/King to conquer Peru. Adaptability, Leadership,
Understanding Others, Communications: Pizarro learned from his first 2 failed
expeditions. He had a good idea of the tactics the Incas would use and how to
take advantage of their lack of armor, close quarters made worse by charging
horses. Pizarro effectively had a script. Having the Friar absolve the men for
killing non-believers ahead of time, then using that the Incas rejected the
Christian God as a battle cry, followed by trumpets and a cavalry charge from
hidden places gave the men a surge when they attacked. Understanding others was a big deal. 
Pizarro knew the few Spanish troops would be spooked by the large number of Inca. 
Some recounts include the Spanish were extremely scared, The “Famous Thirteen" (Los
trece de la fama), who were veterans, likely steadied the rest. Sun Tzu said
“On desperate ground, I would proclaim to my soldiers the hopelessness of
saving their lives." Besides there was nowhere else to go! The Spanish were in
the middle of the Inca Empire. All were going to gain in the booty with
victory.
Many of Sun Tzu’s points are made here.)
The point of all these posts is to give one a basis for intelligent reflection that can be a 

set of parameters for thinking about the validity of of agruments made on the human condition.

 

https://historycollection.com/10-of-historys-worst-colonial-disasters/9/

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