Chimor–Inca War facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chimor-Inca War
Map showing the location of the Chimor and Inca empires with their respective allies.
Date ~1470 Location Northwestern Peru Result Inca victory Chimor empire ceases to exist. Chan Chan gets looted but rebuilt shortly after, many artisans and goldsmiths are taken to Cuzco. Minchacaman is captured and taken to Cuzco, his son Chumun Caur succeeds him and becomes an Inca vassal. Territorial changes Redifinition of Cajamarca, Huamachuco and Chimor frontiers. Chimor's government gets reduced to its capital and the Moche Valley, under indirect rule of the Inca empire. The rest of the territories conquered by the Chimor empire are returned to their own kurakas.
Belligerents
Chimor Empire Cajamarca kingdom	Tawantinsuyu
Commanders and leaders
Minchancaman Querrotumi Guzmango  †	Pachacuti Topa Inca Yupanqui Capac Yupanqui Awki Yupanqui Tilca Yupanqui

The Chimor-Inca War was a big fight that happened around the late 1400s. It was between two powerful empires in ancient Peru: the Inca Empire and the Chimor Empire.

At that time, the Chimor Empire was trying to expand its land. But then, the Inca Empire showed up, and it became very hard for the Chimor to keep control of the new areas they had taken.

The Start of the Conflict

The first small fights happened when the Inca Empire took over Cajamarca. This city was inland and not part of the Chimor Empire. The Incas were led by Topa Inca Yupanqui.

The Incas reacted to these fights by first moving north. They went all the way to Quito, which is in modern-day Ecuador. After securing that area, they turned their attention to the Chimor Empire.

How the Incas Won

It seems the Inca Empire conquered the Chimor Empire by attacking from the north. Once the Chimor were defeated, the Incas didn't completely take over their government. Instead, they let the Chimor leaders stay in charge, but under Inca rule. This is called "indirect rule."

To make sure their victory lasted, the Incas asked the Chimor to hand over their leader, Minchançaman. He was taken to Cuzco, the Inca capital. He became a "luxury prisoner," meaning he was treated well but couldn't leave. His son, Chumun Caur, then took his place as leader in the Chimor homeland. Chumun Caur worked with the Incas.

After the War

• The Chimor Empire stopped existing as a separate power.
• Their capital city, Chan Chan, was looted, meaning its valuable items were taken.
• However, Chan Chan was rebuilt soon after.
• Many skilled workers, like artisans and goldsmiths, were taken from Chimor to Cuzco. This helped the Inca Empire grow its own crafts.

See also

In Spanish: Guerra chimú-inca para niños