Dominic Sandbrook

And this is probably most influential of all the Spanish writers about Peru, Pedro Tieta de Leon in the 1550s.

The most evil deed the Spaniards have done in all the empire of the Indies.

It is widely vituperated and it's considered a grave sin.

And this is definitely what the king himself thought, Charles V.

Because when he wrote back to Pizarro, he said, 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, we will seek more information about this matter and then order what is necessary.

And if you're Pizarro reading this, you surely think,

Oh no.

And that's probably what Pizarro was worrying about.

Exactly that reaction.

Atahualpa is dead and Pizarro's position is looking a little bit rickety.

So his brother Hernando, on whom he relied, has gone back to Spain with some of the gold.

His chief lieutenant, Hernando de Soto, is furious with him about the death of Atahualpa.

And his partner, Diego de Amagro, is absolutely furious.

Yeah, he's livid.

Yeah, livid.

He is livid about the unequal division of the treasure.

And now Pizarro and his men are facing their biggest challenge yet –

Atahualpa is dead and the Inca Empire is leaderless, so they need to find a new puppet on whom they can rely.

And Tom, their road now lies south, up into the Andes, across the Inca heartland to the city of gold, Cusco.