Tom Holland

As John Hemming says in his brilliant book, it's one of the most staggering invasions in history.

Without supplies, communications or reinforcements, this tiny contingent was going to try to force its way into the heart of an enormous hostile empire to seize its capital city.

And they set off on the 11th of August.

It's very like Alexander the Great kind of going through what's now Turkey, Iran and whatnot.

Sort of endless river crossings, rope bridges, climbing rock faces, ambushes by strange people, all of this kind of thing.

Anyway, after about eight weeks of this, it's actually going pretty well.

So they're about halfway, which I think is really good going.

The locals, by and large, are Huascar supporters.

Well, these are the wanker people.

Yeah.

So it's always good to have the wankers on side.

I think you've always got them on side, haven't you, Tom?

The wankers?

They're very much Team Tom Holland, I think.

I would never snub a wanker.

No.

So by early October, the Spaniards are approaching the valley of Xauxa.

So this is where Hernando Pizarro lured away Chalcuchima.

The rugby player.

Who got burnt.