Dominic Sandbrook

This is terrible if Fattahualpa can't enjoy this future joy.

Now, he doesn't have much time to think about it.

The trial ends, so-called trial, if there is a trial, ends in the early hours of Saturday the 26th of July.

And the Spaniards say, we want to get this done by tonight.

Basically, A, in case Atahualpa is rescued, or B, in case Pizarro changes his mind.

And so that evening, night's falling, Atahualpa is led out into the square in Cajamarca, the place where he had been captured before this big crowd, and he's tied to a stake.

It's an absolutely kind of heart-rending scene, even though he is a bad man in some ways.

He's sobbing like a baby.

He says, I want to entrust my children to Pizarro's protection.

And Valverde, the Dominican friar, says to him, you know, forget about your children, accept baptism and die like a Christian.

We're told Atahualpa continued to persist in commending his sons with great weeping, indicating their size with his hand, showing by the signs he made and by his words that they were small and that he was leaving them in Quito.

And eventually Valverde says, well, Pizarro will look after them as though they're his own children.

And Atahualpa says, fine, in that case, I'll accept baptism and I'll become a Christian.

Yes, exactly.

Valverde then baptizes him and he gives him the name Francisco, of all names.

And then he's not going to be burned.

The guards tie a cord around Atahualpa's neck.

And as Valverde leads the Spaniards in reciting the creed, Atahualpa is garrotted.

So that is the end of him.

But a couple more details.