The Archaeologist

View Original

A day in the rebellion against the Inca Empire

The city of Chan Chan is the former seat of the Chimú Empire in modern-day Peru. The city was conquered by the Incas, and the Chimú king was taken hostage. In the midst of political turmoil, a group of influential people from the city gather secretly to plan a rebellion against the Incas. They ask Maxo, a former soldier who survived the last battle, to join them. Maxo is hesitant, fearing for the safety of the Chimú king and the city's residents. However, the Chimú king's son reveals that there are rumors that the king is already dead, and the time for rebellion is now. Maxo agrees to join the rebellion, and the group plans to attack the Inca soldiers at the old fortress down the road.

The city of Chan Chan was once a trade hub with thousands of artisans, but after the conquest, the Inca rulers took the artisans away to Cusco. The rebellion is successful, but the Inca Empire burns Chan Chan, killing many of its residents and scattering others throughout the empire. The mummified remains of a man from this period were discovered just outside Chan Chan in 2016, but many details of the rebellion and who was behind it remain mysteries.