The Sapa Inca (from ; ) was the monarch of the Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu "the region of the four [provinces]"), as well as ruler of the earlier Kingdom of Cusco and the later Neo-Inca State at Vilcabamba. While the origins of the position are mythical and originate from the legendary foundation of the city of Cusco, it seems to have come into being historically around AD 1100. Although the Inca believed the Sapa Inca to be the son of Inti (the sun god) and often referred to him as Inti churi "solar son" or Intip churin "son of the sun", the position eventually became hereditary, with son succeeding father.Wilfred Byford-Jones, Four Faces of Peru, Roy Publishers, 1967, p. 17; p. 50. The principal wife of the Inca was known as the coya or quya. The Sapa Inca was at the top of the social hierarchy and played a dominant role in the political and spiritual realm.
Manco Capac, the first Inca monarch, adopted the title capac or qhapaq (roughly translated as "king"). Inca Roca, the sixth Inca monarch, was evidently the first to bear the title sapa Inca ("emperor") officially.
There were two known dynasties, led by the Hurin and Hanan moieties respectively. The latter was in power at the time of Spanish conquest. The last effective Sapa Inca of Inca Empire was Atahualpa, who was executed by Francisco Pizarro and his conquistadors in 1533, but several successors later claimed the title.
Other terms for sapa Inca include apu ("lord"), qhapaq Inka ("mighty Inca") or simply sapa ("the only one").
Choosing the Inca Chronicles identify the Inca as the highest ruler equivalent to European kings of the Middle Ages. However, the original access to that position was not linked to the inheritance of the eldest son, as is for a monarchy, but to the perceived selection of the gods by means of rigorous challenges, to which the physical and moral aptitudes of the aspirant were tested. These trials were accompanied by a complex spiritual ritual through which the Sun god, Inti nominated the one who should assume the Inca position. Eventually, with the passage of time, Incas named their favorite son as co-governor with the intention of securing his succession,Rostworowski, 1999: 53 for example, Huiracocha Inca associated Inca Urco to the throne.Rostworowski, 2001: 124 The coya, or sapa Inca's primary wife, had significant influence upon making this decision of which son is apt to succeed his father.
Functions
The Sapa Inca was the absolute ruler of the empire and accumulated in his power the political, social, military, and economic direction of the state.Molestina, 1994: 26 He ordered and directed the construction of great engineering works, such as Sacsayhuamán, a fortress that took 50 years to complete;Temoche, 2010: 227 or the urban plan of the cities.Temoche, 2010: 31, 154, 225 However, among their most notable works, was the network of roads that crossed the entire empire and allowed a rapid journey for the administrators, messengers, and armiesTemoche, 2010: 159 provided with hanging bridges and tambos.Temoche, 2010: 53, 111, 144 They made sure to always be supplied and well cared for,Temoche, 2010: 145 as is reflected in the construction of storehouses scattered throughout the empire and vast food and resource redistribution systems. The commander and chief of the standing army founded military colonies to expand the culture and control, while simultaneously ensuring the preservation of that network.Temoche, 2010: 71
At the religious level, they were symbolic of the sun and promoted the worship of Inti, who was regarded as their ancestral father,Temoche, 2010: 181 and organized the calendar.Temoche, 2010: 179 At the political level, they sent inspectors to oversee the loyalty and efficiency of civil servants and collect tribute from the subjugated peoples.Temoche, 2010: 144–145 The emperors promoted a unified and decentralized government in which Cuzco acted as the articulating axis of the different regions or suyu.Temoche, 2010: 157 They appointed highly trusted governors.Temoche, 2010: 144 At the economic level, they decided how much each province should pay according to its resources.Temoche, 2010: 143 They knew how to win over the kuraka to ensure control of the communities. These were the intermediaries through whom they collected taxes.Temoche, 2010: 116
Traditionally, every time an emperor died or resigned, his successor was disinherited from his father's inheritance and formed his own lineage royal clan or panaka, his father's lands, houses and servants were passed to his other children remaining on the previous panaka. The new Sapa Inca had to obtain land and spoils to bequeath to his own descendants.Bravo, 1985: 95; Temoche, 2010: 130 Each time they subdued a people, they demanded that the defeated leader surrender part of their land to continue in command, and whose people pay tribute in the form of labor (mit'a) and taxes.
The Sapa Inca also played a major role in caring for the poor and hungry, hence his other title huacchacoya or waqcha khuyaq "lover and benefactor of the poor". The Sapa was responsible for organizing food redistribution in times of environmental disaster, allocated work via state-sponsored projects, and most notably promoted major state-sponsored religious feasts that followed each successful harvest season.
Distinction symbols The Inca was divinized both in their actions and their emblems. In public he carried the topayauri ("scepter"), ushno (golden throne), suntur páucar (feathered pike), and the mascapaicha (royal insignia) commonly carried in a llauto (headband), otherwise, the mascapaicha could also be carried on an amachana chuku (military helmet). In religious ceremonies he was accompanied by the sacred white flame, the napa, covered with a red blanket and adorned with gold earrings.Martinengui, 1980: 37 With textiles representing a form of status and wealth, it has been speculated that the Sapa Inca never wore the same clothes twice. The community even revered the Sapa after his death, mummifying him and frequently visiting his tomb to "consult" him on pressing affairs.
Pre-Conquest Sapa Incas
First dynasty Little is known of the rulers of the first dynasty of Sapa Incas. Evidently, they were affiliated with the Hurin moiety and their rule did not extend beyond the Kingdom of Cusco. Their origins are tied to the mythical establishment of Cusco and are shrouded in the later foundation myth. The dynasty was supposedly founded by Manco Cápac, who is considered the son of the sun god Inti in Inca mythology.
Title Sapa Inca Picture Birth Queen Death Inca of Cusco Manco Capac Considered the son of the sun god Inti Mama Ocllo or Mama Waqu Sinchi Roca Son of Manco Cápac Mama Cora Lloque Yupanqui Son of Sinchi Roca Mama Cahua Mayta Capac Son of Lloque Yupanqui Mama Takukaray Capac Yupanqui Son of Mayta Cápac Mama Chimpu Qurihillpay
As a rough guide to the later reputation of the early Sapa Incas, in later years capac meant warlord and sinchi meant leader.
Second dynasty The second dynasty was affiliated with the Hanan moiety and was founded under Inca Roca, the son of the last Hurin Sapa Inca, Cápac Yupanqui. After Cápac Yupanqui's death, another of his sons, Inca Roca's half-brother Quispe Yupanqui, was intended to succeed him. However, the Hanan revolted and installed Inca Roca instead.
Title Sapa Inca Picture Birth Queen Death Inca of Cusco Inca Roca Son of Cápac Yupanqui Mama Mikay Yahuar Huacac Son of Inca Roca Mama Chikya Viracocha Son of Yáhuar Huácac Mama Runtu Quya 1438 Pachacuti1438–1471 Son of Viracocha Mama Anawarkhi 1471 Topa Inca Yupanqui1471–1493 Son of Pachacuti Mama Ocllo Coya 1493 Huayna Capac1493–1527 Son of Túpac Inca Yupanqui CusirimayRahua Ocllo 1527 Huascar1527–1532 Son of Huayna Capac Chuqui Huipa 1533Killed by Atahualpa's agents. Atahualpa1532–1533 Son of Huayna Capac Asarpay 26 July 1533Killed by the conquistadors.
Ninan Cuyochi, who was Inca for only a few days in 1527, is sometimes left off the list of Sapa Incas because news of his death from smallpox arrived in Cusco very shortly after he was declared Sapa Inca. He had witnessed the death of his father Huayna Cápac. The death of Ninan, the presumed heir, led to the Inca Civil War between Huáscar and Atahualpa, a weakness that the conquistadors exploited when they conquered the Inca Empire.
Post-Conquest Sapa Incas Title Sapa Inca Picture Birth Death Notes Inca of Incas Túpac Huallpa1533 Son of Huayna Capac 1533 Installed by Francisco Pizarro. Manco Inca Yupanqui1533–1544 Son of Huayna Capac 1544 Installed by Francisco Pizarro. Led a revolt against the Spanish in 1536; after his defeat, established the Neo-Inca State in Vilcabamba before being killed by Almagristas. Paullu Inca1536–1549 Son of Huayna Capac 1549 Installed by the Spanish after Manco Inca rebelled; ruled in Cuzco. Inca of Vilcabamba Sayri Túpac1544–1560 Son of Manco Inca Yupanqui 1560 Ruled in Vilcabamba. Titu Cusi1563–1571 Son of Manco Inca Yupanqui 1571 Ruled in Vilcabamba. Túpac Amaru1571–1572 Son of Manco Inca Yupanqui 24 September 1572Executed by the Spanish Ruled in Vilcabamba. The last Sapa Inca.
This last Sapa Inca must not be confused with Túpac Amaru II, who was leader of an 18th-century Peruvian uprising.
Family tree
See also
Mallku Ñusta Lonko Toki The Legend of the Last Inca
References