Tumebamba or Tomebamba, was a former city-state in the Inca federation

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...

, held by the ethnic 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...

 people; roughly translating to "entrance of the puma". Known as the "second Cusco

Cusco

Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...

" (the Inca capital) because of its high quality architecture, it was given to 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...

 when the empire was divided

Northern Inca Empire

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, was formed in 1527 when the Inca Huayna Capac died...

 in 1527.

Its fate was decided when Canari tribal leaders chose to follow 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...

 in 1531 (War of the two brothers

Inca Civil War

The Inca Civil War, the Inca Dynastic War, the Inca War of Succession, or, sometimes, the War of the Two Brothers was fought between two brothers, Huáscar and Atahualpa, sons of Huayna Capac, over the succession to the Inca throne. The war followed Huayna Capac's death in 1527, although it did not...

) and betrayed Atahualpa. In late 1531 or early 1532, Atahualpa and his generals took revenge, forcing the city to surrender and destroying it.

Tumebamba is the Inca city that preceded Cuenca, Ecuador

Cuenca, Ecuador

Cuenca is the capital of the Azuay Province. It is located in the highlands of Ecuador at about 2500 m above sea level...

.