Siege of Cusco
1536 CE · Cusco, Peru
The Siege of Cusco was fought in 1536 CE in Cusco, Peru between Spanish conquistadors and native allies vs the Inca forces of Manco Inca; Spanish victory; the ten-month siege failed and Manco withdrew to Vilcabamba.
Siege of Cusco: quick facts
- Date
- 1536 CE
- Location
- Cusco, Peru
- Belligerents
- Spanish conquistadors and native allies vs the Inca forces of Manco Inca
- Commanders
- Hernando Pizarro vs Manco Inca Yupanqui
- Result
- Spanish victory; the ten-month siege failed and Manco withdrew to Vilcabamba.
- Era
- 🌎 Latin American Wars
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Siege of Cusco?
Manco Inca rallied over 100,000 warriors to besiege the Spanish garrison at Cusco, the former Inca capital. The siege lasted nearly a year, with fierce fighting at the fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Despite overwhelming numbers, the Inca could not dislodge the Spanish, who were eventually relieved by forces from other colonies.
Did you know?
During the Siege of Cusco, Manco Inca used captured Spanish weapons and even Spanish cavalry tactics against the defenders. One Inca captain learned to ride horses and lead mounted charges.
Sources and further reading
- Siege of Cusco on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.