# Atahualpa's ransom melted down (1533)

URL: https://allhistories.com/peru/timeline/1533-atahualpa-s-ransom-melted-down
Location: Cajamarca, Cajamarca
Themes: Economy

Atahualpa had promised to fill a room once with gold and twice with silver in exchange for his freedom. Treasure arrives from across the empire, including plates stripped from the Coricancha. In 1533 the Spaniards melt down most of it, yielding roughly six tons of gold and eleven of silver, which is divided among the conquerors and the crown.

## Why it matters
The ransom was one of the largest single hauls of treasure in history and the destruction of its artworks erased much Inca metalwork.

Ruler at the Time: [Charles I](https://allhistories.com/peru/rulers/charles-i)

Governor of New Castile: Francisco Pizarro
Sapa Inca: Túpac Huallpa

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Ransom Room](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ransom_Room)
- [Wikipedia — Atahualpa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atahualpa)
- [Wikipedia — Spanish Conquest (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_conquest_of_the_Inca_Empire)