The Northern Inca Empire was a temporary found state in western South America. The Northern Confederacy, consisting of the parts of the "regular" Inca Empire

Inca Empire

The Inca Empire, or Inka Empire , was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political and military center of the empire was located in Cusco in modern-day Peru. The Inca civilization arose from the highlands of Peru sometime in the early 13th century...

, was formed in 1527 when the Inca Huayna Capac

Huayna Capac

Huayna Capac was the eleventh Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire and sixth of the Hanan dynasty. He was the successor to Tupac Inca Yupanqui.-Name:In Quechua, his name is spelled Wayna Qhapaq, and in Southern Quechua, it is Vaina Ghapakh...

 died. After his will, the empire was divided between the "right" heir Huáscar

Huáscar

Huáscar Inca was Sapa Inca of the Inca empire from 1527 to 1532 AD, succeeding his father Huayna Capac and brother Ninan Cuyochi, both of whom died of smallpox while campaigning near Quito.After the conquest, the Spanish put forth the idea that Huayna Capac may have...

, who received the traditional empire, ruled from Cuzco apart from those areas given to the Northern Inca Empire, with Quito

Quito

San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...

 as capital. Atahualpa

Atahualpa

Atahualpa, Atahuallpa, Atabalipa, or Atawallpa , was the last Sapa Inca or sovereign emperor of the Tahuantinsuyu, or the Inca Empire, prior to the Spanish conquest of Peru...

, the favorite son, inherited this new, sovereign empire who stretched from Cajamarca

Cajamarca

Cajamarca may refer to:Colombia*Cajamarca, Tolima a town and municipality in Tolima DepartmentPeru* Cajamarca, city in Peru.* Cajamarca District, district in the Cajamarca province.* Cajamarca Province, province in the Cajamarca region....

 in south to southern Colombia

Colombia

Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...

 in the north. However, though Huáscar had inherited more than 90% of the original Empire's area, he ordered his brother and general Atoc

Atoc

Atoc was a general and brother of the Inca emperor Huáscar. After the death of Huáscar's father, Huayna Capac, Atoc was sent north to quell the separatists under Huáscars half-brother Atahualpa. Atahualpa was defeated in the battle of Chillopampa Plains and captured, but managed to escape and set...

 to invade the north in 1529.
Cajamarca, the latter place of battle between Atahualpa and the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro

Francisco Pizarro

Francisco Pizarro González, Marquess was a Spanish conquistador, conqueror of the Incan Empire, and founder of Lima, the modern-day capital of the Republic of Peru.-Early life:...

, was briefly seized, and the "second Cuzco", Tumebamba

Tumebamba

Tumebamba or Tomebamba, was a former city-state in the Inca federation, held by the ethnic Cañaris people; roughly translating to "entrance of the puma"...

, did defect to Huáscar shortly after.
After initial setbacks, Atahualpa however managed to halt the southern advance at Mullihambato

Battle of Mullihambato

The battle of Mullihambato was fought in present-day Ecuador during the Inca Civil War, with Atahualpa halting or possibly defeating the forces of Atoc after having previously been defeated in the battle of Chillopampa Plains. Atahualpa's forces led a counter-attack and soon faced the Huáscarans at...

 and later won a stunning victory in the battle of Chimborazo

Battle of Chimborazo

The Battle of Chimborazo was among the first confrontations in the War of the two brothers, a struggle between Huáscar and Atahualpa for power over the Inca Empire. Atahualpa won, having the more capable generals; he drove Huáscar back onto the defensive....

, much to the help of his generals Quizquiz

Quizquiz

Quizquiz or Quisquis was, along with Chalkuchimac and Rumiñahui, one of Atahualpa's leading generals. In April 1532, along with his companions, Quizquiz led the armies of Atahualpa to victory in the battles of Mullihambato, Chimborazo and Quipaipan, where he, along with Chalkuchimac defeated and...

, Rumiñahui

Rumiñahui

Rumiñahui may refer to:*Rumiñahui *Rumiñahui *Rumiñahui...

 and Chalicuchima

Chalicuchima

Chalcuchimac was, along with Quisquis and Rumiñahui one of the leading Inca generals of the north and a supporter of Atahualpa, for whom he had won five battles against the Spaniards.He was born in Quito...

. Tumebamba was recaptured and razed, its Cañaris

Cañaris

The Cañari are an indigenous ethnic group traditionally inhabiting the territory of the modern provinces of Azuay and Cañar in Ecuador; the term also refers to an independent pre-Hispanic tribal confederation of the same name, from which the modern people are descended. They are particularly noted...

 population massacred, and Huáscar forced to evacuate the north.
In 1532, the although so superior southern empire was yet again defeated at Quipaipan

Quipaipan

Quipaipan is the name of the plains west of Cusco in Peru, famous for the Battle of Quipaipan in 1532 which decided the fate of the Inca Empire....

, Huáscar was caught and Cuzco seized by Quizquiz. Atahualpa stayed himself in Cajamarca and was the same year caught by Spanish explorers. However, the capture of the Sapa Inca (Huáscar) and his capital in early 1532 marked the end of this empire as the empire was reunited under Atahualpa's reign. His luck was short found, however, as he himself was defeated and captured seven months later in Cajamarca. The capital of Quito was burnt to the ground in 1535 by his half-brother Rumiñahui.