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The General History of Peru
Book 1
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Martín de Murúa
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Translated by:
Brian S. Bauer
, Brian S. Bauer , Eliana Gamarra C. and Andrea Gonzales Lombardi
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2024
About this book
Mercedarian friar Martín de Murúa’s General History of Peru (Historia General del Piru, 1616) is one of the most significant Spanish chronicles of Inca history and Peru’s early colonial period yet to be published in English. Written over several decades and approved by King Philip III for publication, Murúa’s magnificent manuscript disappeared from public view for nearly 350 years until its publication in 1964. Here, translators Brian S. Bauer, Eliana Gamarra C., and Andrea Gonzales Lombardi present the first English translation of Book 1 of Murúa’s comprehensive three-part work.
Book 1 covers both the history of the Inca Empire and the first forty years of the Spanish occupation, up to and including the fall of Vilcabamba in 1572. While the J. Paul Getty Museum produced a digital facsimile of Murúa’s full Historia in 2008, it remained underused and, until now, untranslated. This translation revitalizes the momentous early volume with an introduction offering a window into Murúa’s life and the writing of his Historia, and extensive footnotes that provide the scholarly context of Murúa’s work.
This edition of The General History of Peru: Book 1 provides long-awaited access to Murúa’s contribution to Indigenous Andean history and early colonial Peru. The book is valuable for English-speaking students and scholars of pre-Hispanic Andean history, especially those interested in the ancient Andean world and colonial Peru’s literary production.
Book 1 covers both the history of the Inca Empire and the first forty years of the Spanish occupation, up to and including the fall of Vilcabamba in 1572. While the J. Paul Getty Museum produced a digital facsimile of Murúa’s full Historia in 2008, it remained underused and, until now, untranslated. This translation revitalizes the momentous early volume with an introduction offering a window into Murúa’s life and the writing of his Historia, and extensive footnotes that provide the scholarly context of Murúa’s work.
This edition of The General History of Peru: Book 1 provides long-awaited access to Murúa’s contribution to Indigenous Andean history and early colonial Peru. The book is valuable for English-speaking students and scholars of pre-Hispanic Andean history, especially those interested in the ancient Andean world and colonial Peru’s literary production.
Author / Editor information
Brian S. Bauer is professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois Chicago. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago. He has published numerous books on Andean prehistory, including Voices from Vilcabamba, and is particularly well known for his work on the Incas. Andrea Gonzáles Lombardi is a PhD student at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and teaches at the Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego in Piura, Perú. She earned her MA from the University of Illinois Chicago, and her work focuses on the early contact between local groups and the Spanish empire in the Northern Andes during the sixteenth century.
Eliana Gamarra C. received her licenciatura in archaeology from the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco and is pursuing a master’s degree in art history at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. She has worked extensively in the Peruvian Ministerio de Cultura and the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores.
Eliana Gamarra C. received her licenciatura in archaeology from the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco and is pursuing a master’s degree in art history at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. She has worked extensively in the Peruvian Ministerio de Cultura and the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores.
Reviews
“Among the most important of the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century histories of the Incas, Murúa’s detailed account of the Inca imperial expansion and dynastic politics is here carefully translated into English for the first time. This book is an essential resource for Andean history and studies.”
—David Garrett, Reed College
“This is one of the most important Spanish chronicles of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries on the history of the Incas, and this edition is a superb introduction to the reading of Martín de Murúa’s work for the English-speaking public.”
—Marco Curatola Petrocchi, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
—David Garrett, Reed College
“This is one of the most important Spanish chronicles of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries on the history of the Incas, and this edition is a superb introduction to the reading of Martín de Murúa’s work for the English-speaking public.”
—Marco Curatola Petrocchi, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
Topics
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Frontmatter
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Contents
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Figures and Tables
xv -
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Preface: Translators’ Notes
xvii -
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Acknowledgments
xix -
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Introduction
1 - The General History of Peru
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1. How in earlier times there was no king or universal lord in this kingdom until the Incas
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2. The beginning and origin of the Incas and where they came from
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3. How Manco Capac armed his son Sinchi Roca as a knight and forced his way into Cuzco and took it over
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4. Coya Mama Huaco, the wife of Manco Capac, and her rule
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5. The life of Sinchi Roca, the first Inca lord
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6. The life of Chimpo Coya, [the] wife of Inca Sinchi Roca
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7. Lloque Yupanqui, the third Inca
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8. The Coya Mama Cura, also called Anahuarque, wife of Lloque Yupanqui Inca
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9. Mayta Capac, [the] fourth Inca and king
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10. The Coya Chimpo Urma, the wife of the courageous Mayta Capac, who was also called Mama Yacche
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11. Capac Yupanqui, the fifth Inca
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12. Chimpo Ocllo, also known as Mama Cahua, [the] wife of Capac Yupanqui Inca
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13. Inca Roca, the sixth lord, who made the two divisions of Hanan Cuzco and Hurin Cuzco
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14. The Coya Cusi Chimpo, also called Mama Micay
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15. Yahuar Huacac, [the] seventh Inca and king
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16. Ipa Huaco Coya, also known as Mama Chiquia, [the] wife of Yahuar Huacac
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17. The deeds of Viracocha, [the] eighth Inca
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18. Mama Yunto Caya, [the] wife of Viracocha Inca
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19. The courageous Inca Yupanqui, also called Pachacuti Inca, [the] ninth [Inca]
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20. How [Pachacuti] Inca Yupanqui decorated the House of the Sun and other memorable things and his conquests
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21. How [Pachacuti] Inca Yupanqui had his brother, Capac Yupanqui, killed and [how he] sent his son, Tupa Inca Yupanqui, to conquer new lands
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22. How Tupa Inca Yupanqui returned to Cuzco and his father, [Pachacuti] Inca Yupanqui, renounced his lordship
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23. Mama Anahuarque Coya, wife of [Pachacuti] Inca Yupanqui
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24. Tupa Inca Yupanqui, [the] 10th Inca and king
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25. How Tupa Inca Yupanqui discovered many mines and conquered until Chile and gave laws to his kingdoms
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26. How Tupa Inca Yupanqui organized his entire kingdom, and the treason [that] his brother, Tupa Capac, attempted against him, and of his death
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27. Mama Ocllo, [the] 10th Coya, wife of Tupa Inca Yupanqui
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28. How Inca Huayna Capac, the son of Tupa Inca Yupanqui, was coronated
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29. How Governor Hualpaya wanted to usurp the rule and kill Huayna Capac, and [how] he was killed, and the marriage of Huayna Capac
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30. How Huayna Capac mourned for his father and mother, and personally visited many provinces
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31. How Huayna Capac gathered his army and left Cuzco to go to Tomebamba and the buildings he made there
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32. How Huayna Capac sent part of his army to conquer Pasto and [how] they were thwarted, and [how] in the end he seized and conquered Pasto
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33. How Huayna Capac conquered the provinces of the Caranqui and the danger he experienced
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34. The mutiny that arose in Tomebamba by Michi and other orejones, captains, and how Huayna Capac ended it
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35. How Auqui Tupa, Huayna Capac’s brother, died attacking the Caranqui fortress, and [how] later [Huayna Capac] took it himself
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36. How Huayna Capac captured Pinto, [the] Cayambe cacique, and sent a captain against the Chiriguano
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37. How Huayna Capac became in grave danger while continuing his conquests and of his death
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38. The great Coya, Rahua Ocllo, [the] wife of Huayna Capac, and the remarkable thing that happened in the town of Yauqui Supa
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39. What Huayna Capac ordered in his will, and how Tupa Cusi Hualpa, also known as Huascar Inca, was named as Inca
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40. The cruelties that Huascar Inca committed against his brothers and those who came to Cuzco with his father’s body
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41. The solemn triumph with which the army of Huayna Capac entered Cuzco
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42. How Huascar Inca triumphed in the name of his father, Huayna Capac, and the parties he later held
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43. How Huascar Inca married his sister, Chuqui Huipa, and the great marriage celebrations that were held
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44. The journey that Huascar Inca ordered undertaken to the Chachapoyas and [the] death of his brother Chuquis Guaman
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45. The revenge of the death of Chuquis Guaman, and how messengers from his brother, Atahualpa, reached Huascar Inca
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46. How the differences between Huascar Inca and his brother Atahualpa began
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47. How Atahualpa prepared to defend himself, knowing that his brother had ordered his capture
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48. The two battles [that took place] between the troops of Huascar Inca and Atahualpa
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49. How Huascar learned that his brother had divided the kingdom and [how] he sent Huanca Auqui against him, and of the battles that took place
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50. How Huanca Auqui, having lost another battle, retreated to Cusipampa and conquered the Pacamoros
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51. The embassy that Huascar Inca sent to Huanca Auqui, and the battles he had with the people of Atahualpa, and his final retreat
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52. How Quisquis defeated the Chachapoyas and Huanca Auqui in two other battles
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53. How Huascar Inca, having offered great sacrifices, personally went out to defend his domains and defeated Quisquis in a battle
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54. How Quisquis and Chalcuchima fought Huascar Inca the next day, beating and capturing him
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55. How Huanca Auqui and the other orejones gave obedience to the figure of Atahualpa
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56. How Quisquis ordered Huascar Inca to be taken out in public and what happened to him and the cruelties [that Quisquis] started to do
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57. How Quisquis ordered, in the presence of Huascar Inca, many of his women killed and the mummy of Tupa Inca Yupanqui burnt
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58. How after learning of his victory, Atahualpa left for Cuzco and met with the Marquis Don Francisco Pizarro in Cajamarca
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59. How the Marquis Don Francisco Pizarro met with Atahualpa in the field and captured him
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60. How the Marquis Don Francisco Pizarro sent [soldiers] to Cuzco and Pachacamac and [how] Atahualpa ordered his brother, Huascar Inca, killed
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61. The Coya Chuqui Huipa, [the] wife of Huascar Inca
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62. How Atahualpa mourned for his brother Huascar and [how] Chalcuchima was captured
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63. How the Marquis Pizarro confronted Chalcuchima with Atahualpa and how he ordered Atahualpa killed
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64. How Marquis Pizarro went to Cuzco and there named Manco Inca as Inca
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65. How the Marquis Pizarro and Manco Inca battled Quisquis and defeated him, and [then] seized Cuzco
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66. How Manco Inca left Cuzco and rebelled and laid siege [to the city] with his captains
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67. How the Indians in the fortress killed Juan Pizarro, and [how] the Spaniards finally captured it
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68. How Manco Inca sent Quizo Yupanqui to encircle the City of Kings and what happened to them
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69. When Manco Inca learned of the death of Quizo Yupanqui, he sent messengers to the Marquis, who went to Cuzco
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70. When Don Diego de Almagro returned from Chile, he tried to negotiate with Manco Inca, and what happened to him
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71. How all the high provinces rebelled and selected Quinti Raura as lord, and [how] Hernando Pizarro went out against them
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72. How Manco Inca killed many Spaniards who were coming to capture him, and [how] Diego Méndez and others entered where [the Inca was] living in peace
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73. How Diego Méndez and the other Spaniards treacherously killed Manco Inca
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74. How Sayri Tupac traveled to Lima and swore obedience to Your Majesty, and of his death
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75. During the rule of Cusi Titu Yupanqui, two clerics of the Order of Saint Augustine entered Vilcabamba and what happened to them, and of the death of the Inca
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76. How the captains of Cusi Titu Yupanqui Inca captured and killed Father Fray Diego in a very cruel manner
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77. Of the cruelties that the Indians committed against the body of the revered Friar Diego Ortiz
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78. How Viceroy Don Francisco de Toledo sent messengers to Cusi Titu Yupanqui and how they were killed
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79. How Viceroy Don Francisco de Toledo sent Martín Hurtado de Arbieto as general against Tupac Amaru and the battle against him
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80. A trail was discovered through which the army entered the Puquiura Valley, and other things that occurred
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81. How, with the counsel of Puma Inca, the fort of Huayna Pucara was taken by force
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82. How General Martín Hurtado de Arbieto entered Vilcabamba and sent [his forces] after Quispe Titu, and they apprehended him
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83. How the general sent Captain Martín García [Oñaz] de Loyola, who apprehended Inca Tupac Amaru
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84. How Governor Arbieto ordered the body of Father Fray Diego Ortiz to be removed from where the Indians had buried him
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85. How Governor Arbieto sent Tupac Amaru and the other prisoners to Cuzco, and [how] the Viceroy administered justice to Tupac Amaru
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86. A fable involving Pachacuti, the son of Manco Capac
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87. Inca Urcon, son of Viracocha Inca, and of the stone in Cuzco which they call “tired”
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88. Of Tupa Amaru, son of [Pachacuti] Inca Yupanqui and of a strange event
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89. In which the marriage of the prince and captain Tupa Amaru, and an admirable event that befell him with the ñusta Cusi Chimpo, his wife, will be told
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90. Who Capac Huaritito and Cusi Tupa were
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91. The story and tale of Acoytapia, a shepherd, and Chuqui Llanto, [a] daughter of the Sun
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92. The tragic end of the love affair between Acoytapia and Chuqui Llanto
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93. A remarkable tale told by the Indians about Sayri Tupac Inca and his wife and sister, Doña María Cusi Huarcay, [the] parents of Doña Beatriz Clara Coya
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Glossary
367 -
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References
371 -
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Index
381 -
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About the Authors
397
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
August 26, 2025
eBook ISBN:
9781646426553
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook ISBN:
9781646426553
Keywords for this book
peru history; south american books; incan history books; inca history books; history books; incan history; spanish history
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research