Fray Diego Ortiz and the Failed Resurrection of Titu Cusi Yupanque

The Inca ruler of Vilcabamba, Titu Cusi Yupanqui, died unexpectedly in 1571. His loyalists suspected poisoning and the two foreigners, the Augustinian Diego Ortiz and the Inca’s scribe Martin Pando, who were living nearby were quickly captured. Pando was immediately killed but Ortiz was kept alive with the hope that the priest would be able to resurrect the dead Inca.  In this paper, I draw on two little known investigations (1595 and 1599/1600) that the Augustinian Order of Cuzco conducted into the death of Ortiz to understand what occurred during that chaotic week of death and revenge killings and to reconstruct what eventually became of Ortiz’s remains after the Vilcabamba area was seized by the Spaniards.