Tupac Inca Yupanqui – History of Peru

Posted On: 15 March 2024 #TierrasVivas 454

Tupac Inca Yupanqui was an Inca, son of Pachacutec and Mama Anahuarque. When he was approximately 16 years old, his father appointed him as correinante and he turned out to be an effective assistant and collaborator. He was a born warrior and expanded the borders of the empire like an invincible conqueror. He first reinforced the fortresses in the kingdom of Cuzco and left for the north crushing the pocras of Huamanga, continuing towards Jauja and in Chinchaycocha he founded the llacta (city) of Pumpu. In Huaylas he as a precaution he dismantled the native fortresses of Chungomarca and Pillaguamarca. From there he deviated towards the east, conquered Huánuco and founded the llacta of Huánuco Pampa. He advanced to Cajamarca and established his headquarters there, his base of operations from where he headed towards the coast to conquer the Chimor kingdom. The war lasted several years as the Chimús bravely resisted; The resistance was only defeated when the waters of the Moche River were diverted towards the sandbanks, with which Chan Chan was left without supplies. Later he went to conquer the Chachapoyas, Huambos, Tabaconas and Guayacondos. He triumphantly advanced to Quito and Cayambe, reaching the south of the Carangue kingdom. He returned to Cuzco with a great booty and rested from his conquests for two years. During that time he married Mama Ocllo, his father's sister.

He went on a new expedition to the north with the objective of consolidating the total conquest of the Huayacondos. He continued to the kingdom of Paita, which he broke up into small lordships to reduce its strength and importance, just as his father had done with the Ayarmaca, and as his son Huayna Capac would do years later with the Chimor kingdom.

He later invaded the kingdom of the Cañaris, who offered fierce resistance, but he finally defeated them, founding the Tumebamba llacta and building the Quinche fortress in the Quito region. In that town, his son Cusi Huallpa (the future Huayna Capac) of his wife Mama Ocllo would be born some time later. Later he went down to the northern coast with the purpose of conquering Chono, Huancavilca, Paches and the Puna. It was a painful expedition, the tropical climate affected his troops, who were all from the mountains, but he was victorious nonetheless. It was on the coast where he found out about some distant islands and decided to go after them, he enlisted an impressive fleet of rafts and set sail with twenty thousand men, reaching islands called Ninchumbi and Aguacchumbi. Some historians think that he arrived in Polynesia, specifically to Mangareva Island, where in the 18th century its inhabitants recounted a legend of the arrival of a chief called the Inca, who came from the east. The same story exists in the Marquesas Islands. What is certain is that he returned when he was two years old bringing with him black people, brass chairs, skins, and horse jaws that were preserved in the Sacsayhuamán fortress.

He disembarked on the shores of the Guayas and went up to Tumebamba, picked up his wife and little Titu Cusí Huallpa, continuing his march back to the city of Cuzco. In Paramonga he ordered the construction of a temple dedicated to the Sun, then he continued to the sanctuary of Pachacamac where he remained fasting for 40 days. He continued his march ascending through Huarochirí until he reached Jauja. His reception in Cuzco was lavish: thirty thousand people came out to welcome him on the outskirts of the city, combats were staged, the festivities lasted several days and were planned by his father Pachacutec to symbolize the full power that the empire had achieved, since there were no longer powerful kingdoms.

Ascent to Inca of Tupac Inca Yupanqui

When Pachacutec died, around 1471, the purucaya rites (funerals) were performed, which included sacrifices of children and women. Tupac Inca Yupanqui was then enthroned, who, by then, was a man trained in warfare tactics and an excellent administrator, having behind him a wealth of experience in correignation. His political and military work focused on expanding the borders of the empire while maintaining order and peace. He prepared an army and marched towards Antisuyo, which he entered through three sectors: Aguatoma, Amaro and Pilcopata. In this campaign he was helped by two other brave warriors: Otoronco Achachi and Chalco Yupanqui. They ventured into the jungle and conquered the Yanasimi, Otapari and Manu tribes. Another of his generals, Cusi Rimachi, following the Camata route arrived at Paititi. The interest in those regions was to stock up on exotic birds, medicinal herbs and chonta wood that they used to make their spears, and also to gain land that was destined for cocales. While on this expedition he was warned by his brother Amaro Yupanqui of an uprising of the collas who, aided by the puquinas and the omasu-yos, were marching on Cuzco. The conflict lasted for two years that culminated in the triumph of Tupac Yupanqui and to consolidate his victory, he found it necessary to invade Colla territory, reaching Charcas. He stayed there for a while reorganizing his army and preparing a new conquest. From Charcas he headed south and invaded Araucanian territory, subduing the Michimalongo and Tangalongo kings. He continued his march attacking the Purén and Tucapel, stopping at the Maulé river, where he thought it convenient to transfer the Colla populations as mitimaes. He returned to Cuzco where he managed to impose a tight political control. Likewise, for a better administration, he divided the empire into four regions: Chinchaysuyo, Antisuyo, Collasuyo and Contisuyo. All of them converged in Cuzco, considered for that reason the center of the world. He died in Chinchero in 1493, it is said that he was poisoned by one of his concubines called Chuqui Ocho. His lineage was called Capac Ayllu.

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