Inca Empire

Inca Origin Myth

1197

The Incas believed they were direct descendants of the sun god (Inti) and eight siblings (four boys and four girls) emerged from a cave. The first brother, Ayar Cachi, had mystical powers that made his siblings jealous so they trapped in him a cave. The second (Ayar Uchu) and third brother (Ayar Auca) turned to stone. Ayar Manco married his sister, Mama Ocllo, and migrated north from Lake Titicaca Basin while using the golden staff to determine where the soil was fertile and settled in Cuzco.

First Sapa Inca Establishes Cuzco as Their Capital

1200

After fighting off the local tribe, the Incas made the Valley of Cuzco their capital. Ayar Manco was given the title of Manco Capac and became the first Sapa Inca or king of the Incas.

Pachacuti Defeats Chanka

1438

Because he was a military leader Pachacuti was able to defeat the neighboring Chanka tribe in battle and save the Inca tribe from extinction.

Pachcuti Defeats Chanka, Expands Territories and Reorganizes Inca Empire

Period: 1438 to 1471

In 1438 the Inca civilization was nearly overthrown by a neighboring tribe, named Chanka. During battle, the current Sapa Inca, Viracocha, fled with his heir but his other son, Cusi Yupanqui, who was a great military leader lead the Incas to victory thus saving the Incas from extinction. Cusi got the name Pachacuti (cataclysm). Once he became Sapa Inca, he expanded the kingdom turning it into the world's most powerful empire in the New World and reorganized it into Tahuantinsuyu (four quarters).

Huayna Capac Dies Which Causes Civil War Between Atahuallpa and Huáscar

1525

When the Sapa Inca, Huayna Capac, died of smallpox in 1525 and did not choose a suitable heir, his sons, Atahuallpa and Huáscar, fought over who would become the next Sapa Inca thereby creating a civil war, divided the empire and created chaos.

The End of Spanish-controlled Inca Empire

1532

After Atahuallpa was killed by Fransisco Pizzaro and his men, the empire was controlled by Spain and although several Sapa Incas were named, they only served as puppets for Spain and did not have any real authority or power to rule.

Spanish Killed the Last True Sapa Inca & Ended Inca Empire

1532

During the Age of Exploration, the Spanish came to the Americas and with them came many diseases foreign to the Incas. Before they even met the Incas, the Spanish made millions die of smallpox. One of them was Huayna Capac, who was the Sapa Inca of that time. Because Huayna Capac hadn't chosen a suitable heir to the throne, two of his sons were left to battle it out for the title of Sapa Inca.