Huayna Capac - A Stan Klos Website
HUAYNA CAPAC (wy'-e-nah ca-pack'), Peruvian Inca,
born in Cuzco, Peru; died in Tumipampa, Ecuador, in 1523. He was the son of the
Tupac Inca Iupanqui and the empress Mama Ocllo, and succeeded his father in
1483. Before this event he commanded the army against the provinces of
Chachapoyas, Pacamurus, Canaris and others in the north of the empire.
After he began to reign, he undertook wars of conquest,
and extended his dominions toward the north to the river Aucasmayu, and toward
the south to that of Maule, so that his empire included the kingdoms of Quito
and Chile. He also conquered the vast territory that extends between Atacama and
Chimú, and the important island of Puna. Under his supervision were constructed
the important Inca roads from Tumbez to Pachacamac, and from this city to Cuzco.
In his time the magnificent palaces of Quito, Callu, and
Tumipampa were built, and the rich temple of Coricancha in Cuzco was finished,
and he established the "coptras" which were houses on the roads for the better
service of the mail, and "chasquis," the men who ran with messages and packages
between them. He was bloodthirsty and vindictive in his wars, and particular in
exacting the respect and awe of his people, but in his private life was
affectionate and tender.
He married his sisters Pilcu Huaco, Rahua Ocllo, and his
cousin Mama Runtu, daughter of Prince Amaru. Besides these he had 600 other
wives, one of whom, a princess of Quito, was the mother of Atahualpa. His
predilection for this prince brought ruin to the vast empire of the Peruvians,
because at his death he divided his dominions into halves, one for Huascar, the
eldest son and heir of the crown according to the law of the nation, and the
other for Atahualpa.
This was the cause of dissension, by which Francisco
Pizarro profited. Huayna Capac died shortly after receiving notice of the
landing on the coast of the first expedition of the Spaniards, commanded by
Pascual de Andagoya (q. v.). He had prepared large armies to defend the coast,
as he feared the verification of an old tradition that Peru would be subjugated
by foreign invaders after the reign of the twelfth Inca. He ordered that his
heart should remain at Quito, but his body be transported to Cuzco. During the
passage of his funeral from Tumipampa to Cuzco thousands of human victims and
animals were sacrificed, and the birds are said to have fallen from the air,
struck by the voices of those who accompanied the corpse on the way.
--His son, Huascar (wass'-car), Inca of Peru,
born in Cuzco about 1490; died in Andamarca in January, 1533. His real name was
Inti Cusi Huallpa, or "Sun of Joy," but, as his father celebrated his birth by
making the principal chiefs dance in the square of Cuzco with a thick golden
chain of 350 yards long, the prince was henceforth called "Huascar," from this
chain.
In his youth he accompanied his father on his conquering
expeditions, especially to the kingdom of Quito, and proved a valiant soldier.
After Huayna Capac's death, Huascar ascended the throne, and, as he had promised
his father, let his half-brother Atahualpa (q. v.) reign in the north; but later
it seems that he repented of this measure, and demanded that Atahualpa should
acknowledge him as suzerain.
The latter, not feeling strong enough to resist openly,
feigned to submit, and offered to go with a numerous following to Cuzco to
render homage to his brother, but secretly sent a strong army under the
chieftains Quisquis and Challcuchima, divided into many small bodies and with
concealed weapons. The unsuspecting Huascar became aware too late of this
treachery, and, gathering an army, met the invaders near Cuzco, but was defeated
and made prisoner in 1528.
Although Atahualpa ordered the massacre of the greater
part of the imperial family, he spared Huascar's life, so as to force him, in
case of need, to order the submission of the nation, and kept him a close
prisoner at Jauja. After the invasion of Peru by the Spaniards, when Atahualpa
from his prison treated for his ransom with Pizarro, he feared that Huascar's
existence might become dangerous for his own safety, and ordered him to be
brought to Cuzco and killed on the road. His orders were executed by drowning
the prisoner in the river Andamarca.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001
StanKlos.comTM
HUAYNA CAPAC (wy'-e-nah ca-pack'), Peruvian Inca, born in Cuzco, Peru; died in Tumipampa, Ecuador, in 1523. He was the son of the Tupac Inca Iupanqui and the empress Mama 0cllo, and succeeded his father in 1483. Before this event he commanded the army against the provinces of Chachapoyas, Pacamurus, Canaris and others in the north of the empire. After he began to reign, he undertook wars of conquest, and extended his dominions toward the north to the river Aucas-mayu, and toward the south to that of Maule, so that his empire included the kingdoms of Quite and Chili. He also conquered the vast territory that extends between Atacama and Chimu, and the important island of Puna. Under his supervision were constructed the important inca roads from Tumbez to Pachacamac, and from this city to Cuzco. In his time the magnificent palaces of Quite, Callu, mid Tumipampa were built, and the rich temple of Curicancha was finished, and he established the "coptras" and "chasquis," which were houses on the roads for the better service of the mail. He was bloodthirsty and vindictive in his wars, and particular in exacting the respect and awe of his people, but in his private life was affectionate and tender. He married his sisters Pilcu Huaco, Rahua Ocllo, and his cousin Mama Runtu, daughter of Prince Amaru. Besides these he had 600 other wives, one of whom, a princess of Quite, was the mother of Atahualpa. His predilection for this prince brought ruin to the vast empire of the Peruvians, because at his death he divided his dominions into halves, one for Huascar, the eldest son and heir of the crown according to the law of the nation, and the other for Atahualpa. This was the cause of dissension, by which Francisco Pizarro profited. Huayna Capac died shortly after receiving notice of the landing on the coast of the first expedition of the Spaniards, commanded by Pascual de Andagoya (q. v.). He had prepared large armies to defend the coast, as he feared the verification of an old tradition that Peru would be subjugated by foreign invaders after the reign of the twelfth inca. He ordered that his heart should remain at Quite, but his body be transported to Cuzco. During the passage of his funeral from Tumipampa to Cuzco thousands of human victims and animals were sacrificed, and the birds are said to have fallen from the air, struck by the voices of those who accompanied the corpse on the way.--His son, Huascar (wass'-car), Inca of Peru, born in Cuzco about 1490; died in Andamarca in January, 1533. His real name was Inti Cusi Huallpa, or "Sun of Joy," but, as his father celebrated his birth by making the principal chiefs dance in the square of Cuzco with a thick golden chain of 350 yards long, the prince was henceforth called "Huascar," from this chain. In his youth he accompanied his father on his conquering expeditions, especially to the kingdom of Quite, and proved a valiant soldier. After Huayna Capac's death, Huasear ascended the throne, and, as he had promised his father, let his half-brother Atahualpa (q. v.) reign in the north; but later it seems that he repented of this measure, and demanded that Atahualpa should acknowledge him as suzerain. The latter, not feeling strong enough to resist openly, feigned to submit, and offered to go with a numerous following to Cuzco to render homage to his brother, but secretly sent a strong army under the chieftains Quisquiz and Challcuchima, divided into many small bodies and with concealed weapons. The unsuspecting Huascar became aware too late of this treachery, and, gathering an army, met the invaders near Cuzco, but was defeated and made prisoner in 1528. Although Atahualpa ordered the massacre of the greater part of the imperial family, he spared Huascar's life, so as to force him, in case of need, to order the submission of the nation, and kept him a close prisoner at Jauja. After the invasion of Peru by the Spaniards, when Atahualpa from his prison treated for his ransom with Pizarro, he feared that Huascar's existence might become dangerous for his own safety, and ordered him to be brought to Cuzco and killed on the road. His orders were executed by drowning the prisoner in the river Andamarca.
