Inca Emperors of the Tawantinsuyo

The Tawantinsuyo, also known as the Inca Empire, was a fantastic example of human progress and order. It was the biggest civilization in pre-Columbian America, including what are now Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. "Tawantinsuyo" translates to "The Four Regions," which shows that it was split into four areas that were all run very efficiently from Cusco, the central city.

Through diplomacy, conquest, and construction, the Incas unified an immense geographical region. They were known for their advanced engineering innovations, new farming techniques, and complex social structures within the Tawantinsuyo. Today, it stands as a testament to one of history's greatest civilizations.

Who were the Incas?

The Inca people were a tribe that originated in the Cusco Valley and became a powerful empire. They began to form their empire in the early 13th century. By the time of the Spanish conquest in 1533, they controlled territory that extended from Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina. The Sapa Inca was the ruler of this empire, and there were many of them over the centuries.

Some of the most famous Inca Emperors include Pachacuti, who expanded the empire greatly; Tupac Amaru, the last emperor before the Spanish conquest; and Atahualpa, who was captured by the Spanish and executed. Many other lesser-known emperors ruled for shorter periods.

Origin of the Incas

The origin of the Incas is a fascinating mix of myths, legends, and history. The Incas began in the highlands of Peru, especially around Cusco, which later became the heart of their empire, called Tawantinsuyo.

The Inca Kings and Dynasties

The Inca rulers were thought to be descendants of the sun god, Inti, so they were seen as divine or semi-divine beings. Religion was at the heart of Inca politics, which meant the king, or Sapa Inca, was both a political and religious leader. Power usually passed from father to son, but it didn’t always go to the oldest son. Instead, the throne went to the son who was seen as the most capable. This son, who was chosen as the next ruler, was called the Auqui.

The official wife of the Inca king was known as the Coya. She often came from the royal family, sometimes even a sister, to keep the royal bloodline pure. The Coya had an important role in both politics and religion. She was a key advisor to the king, and she often led significant religious ceremonies.

The Inca believed in a complex group of gods that were linked to natural elements like the sun, moon, and earth. Their religious practices included ceremonies, sacrifices, and festivals, all aimed at pleasing the gods and ensuring the empire's prosperity. The Temple of the Sun in Cusco, which was also called Coricancha, was the most important religious site. It was the center of Inca worship and the home of the high priest called Willaq Umu.

The Inca civilization was divided into two main dynastic lines: Hurin Cusco and Hanan Cusco.

Hurin Cusco

The Hurin Cusco dynasty was the first ruling family of the Inca civilization. This dynasty laid the foundation for the future growth and power of the Inca Empire.

• Manco Cápac
• Sinchi Roca
• Lloque Yupanqui
• Mayta Cápac
• Cápac Yupanqui

Hanan Cusco

The Hanan Cusco dynasty became the dominant ruling family after the decline of the Hurin Cusco kings. This period saw the greatest expansion of the Inca Empire and the strengthening of its power across the Andes.

• Inca Roca
• Yahuar Huacac
• Viracocha Inca
• Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui
• Túpac Inca Yupanqui
• Huayna Cápac
• Huáscar and Atahualpa

The first Inca Kings (Legendary Incas)

The first 8 Inca Kings are called legendary because their existence is mixed with mythology. They are said to have descended from the sun god, and they held great power over the people of the empire. These kings ruled over a small group in the valley of Cusco.

1. Manco Capac (1200–1230)

Manco Capac was the legendary founder of Cusco City and the first Inca emperor (Sapa Inca). According to Inca legends and oral histories, Manco Capac and his wife, Mama Ocllo, emerged from Lake Titicaca. Following the command of the sun god Inti, they traveled across the Andes in search of fertile land. When they found the fertile valley of Cusco, they established the first Inca settlement and conquered nearby villages.

In the 12th century, Manco Capac unified the kingdom of Cusco and led his people in building the great Inca Empire. Under their leadership, the Inca Empire thrived in the Cusco Valley. Manco Capac built a temple to the Sun God Inti, called Inticancha (now known as Coricancha), and made it his home as well.

2. Sinchi Roca (1230–1260)

Sinchi Roca, the son of Manco Capac, succeeded his father and was the first king to wear the Maskaypacha (Royal Crown). He married Mama Cuca, the daughter of an important chief from a nearby village. Sinchi Roca conducted the first census of the Inca people. He also ordered all members of his family to pierce their ears as a symbol of nobility, which is why they were later called the "Orejones" (big ears).

One of Sinchi Roca's most important achievements was draining the wetlands to make them suitable for farming. He also drained the wetlands where Cusco's main plaza is now located. Cusco is a fertile valley because, thousands of years ago, during the last Ice Age or Pleistocene epoch, there was a large lake called Morkill.

3. Lloque Yupanqui (1260–1290)

He was not the first son, but he was the most skillful, which is why he succeeded his father, Sinchi Roca. He married at an older age to Mama Cagua, the daughter of an important ethnic group leader from the south of Cusco. Among his most significant achievements are:

• The construction of the Acllahuasi (House of the Virgins of the Sun) began.
• Freed the Cusco area from the Ayamarcas and conquered the Salt Mines of Maras.
• Created the first Katu, a trading market for local products.

4. Mayta Cápac (1290–1320)

After his father's death, Mayta Capac was still too young to govern, around 8 years old, so his uncle helped him rule. He was a strong and agile boy, and at a young age, he conquered the nearby Alcabisas and Culunchimas tribes. He is considered the first Inca to reach the seashore. Mayta Capac also conquered many ethnic groups, including the Tiahuanaco, with a force of 1,200 people. He organized expeditions into the Apurímac region and Arequipa.

One legend says that during an expedition to Arequipa, one of Mayta Capac's captains asked if he could stay in such a beautiful place. The Inca king replied in Quechua Language, "Ari, quipay" (Yes, stay), which is said to be the origin of the name Arequipa.

Mayta Capac was married to Mama Tancaray and was succeeded by his son Tarku Waman. However, Tarku Waman was overthrown by his cousin Capac Yupanqui, who was the son of Mayta Capac's sister.

5. Cápac Yupanqui (1320–1350)

To gain power, Capac Yupanqui killed 8 or 9 of Taku Waman's siblings. Fortunately, his cousin Taku Waman was spared and sent to the Anta region as a governor. Capac Yupanqui, the fifth Inca ruler, was the last leader of the Urin Qosqo Dynasty.

He married Kurijilpay, the daughter of a Kuraka (chief) of the Ayarmacas tribe. This marriage was strategic because the Chancas from Apurímac were threatening the Cusco region, where both the Incas and Ayarmacas lived. Unfortunately, Capac Yupanqui never fought against the Chancas because he was poisoned by Cusi Chimbo, one of his concubines, likely due to jealousy and a conspiracy with the Hanan Qosqo faction to seize power.

After his death, Capac Yupanqui was supposed to be succeeded by Quispe Yupanqui. However, during this period of political turmoil, the Hanan Qosqo faction took advantage and seized power by killing Quispe Yupanqui and placing Inca Roca, another son of Capac Yupanqui, on the throne.

6. Inca Roca (1350–1380)

The sixth Inca ruler and the first from the Hanan Dynasty, Inca Roca was also the first to take the title of Sapa Inca (Supreme Leader). He came to power through a coup d'état against the dynasty of Capac Yupanqui, the leader of the Urin faction. However, Inca Roca wisely allowed the Inticancha temple to remain under the control of the supreme priest from Urin Cusco, known as the Willaq Umu. This decision helped balance power between the Urin and Hanan factions in Cusco.

Inca Roca married Mama Micay, the daughter of a Kuraka (chief) from the Wallakanes tribe. This marriage angered Toqay Qhapac, the leader of the Ayarmacas, because she had been promised to him. In retaliation, Toqay Qhapac kidnapped Titu Cusi Wallpa, the son of Inca Roca and Mama Micay. According to legend, when the child was about to be murdered, he cried tears of blood, which astonished the kidnappers. Moved by this, they decided not to kill him but instead kept him to tend their herds.

Titu Cusi Wallpa ended up in the Anta region, where Chimbo Orma, one of Toqay Qhapac's concubines, secretly returned him to his father. In gratitude, the Sapa Inca granted nobility status to the people of Anta.

Inca Roca was the first Inca ruler to build his palace outside of Inticancha (now known as Coricancha). He built his palace on what is now Hatunrumiyoc Street, where the famous twelve-angled stone is located. He decreed that all new Incas should build their own palaces rather than living in their fathers' palaces, ensuring each Inca king had his own residence.

He established the first training school for the aristocracy, known as Yachaywasi. These schools taught subjects like the interpretation of quipus (knot systems), poetry, music, philosophy, and astrology. The Yachaywasi was reserved for the elite, and the teachers were Amautas, wise elder men responsible for education.

He allied with the Canas and Canchis tribes to fight against the Chancas, the most powerful enemies of the Incas in the Apurímac region, incorporating the Andahuayllas region into the Incas. He died at an old age and was succeeded by his son Titu Cusi Wallpa, who became known as Yáhuar Huácac ("He Who Cries Blood").

7. Yáhuar Huácac (1380–1410)

His name was Titu Cusi Wallpa, and he was kidnapped as a child by Sinchi Tocay Ccapac of the Ayarmacas. During his captivity, he cried tears of blood, which is why he was called Yahuar Huacac ("the one who cries blood").

Married to Mama Chijlla, Yahuar Huacac's reign was brief and marked by rebellions, which he managed to control with the help of his brother, Vicaraqrao, an expert in military campaigns. Yahuar Huacac attempted to conquer the Collao region (Lake Titicaca area), but this move was not well-received by the Condesuyus (people of the Arequipa region), who felt threatened by the Inca expansion.

During a celebration in Cusco, Yahuar Huacac was feasting and drinking when he was attacked by the Condesuyus. He tried to escape to the Inticancha but was killed. Cusco was attacked and looted for the first time by foreign forces, but a sudden storm prevented the complete destruction of the city. Yahuar Huacac died without naming a successor.

After several meetings, the Orejones ("Big Ears," a term for Inca nobles) decided to name Hatun Tupac as the new Sapa Inca, who would later take the name Wiracocha Inca. During this political crisis, the Chancas attacked, retook the Andahuaylas region, and reached the banks of the Apurímac River.

8. Wiracocha (1410–1438)

After Yahuar Huacac's death, there was no successor because most of his relatives and descendants were killed during the assault on Cusco. Hatun Tupac, who belonged to the Hanan Qosqo royal dynasty, was then named Sapa Inca. Upon receiving the Maskaypacha (the royal crown), he took the name Wiracocha, the main god of the Incas, claiming to have had a miraculous dream.

During his reign, Wiracocha Inca conquered the regions of Calca and Yucay in the Sacred Valley and built his palace in Calca. His wife was Mama Runtukaya (Mama Runto), and they had many children, including Cusi Yupanqui (later known as Pachacuti). He also had many concubines, including Curi Chulppi, his favored second wife, who persuaded him to name their son, Inca Urco, as his successor.

Wiracocha Inca voluntarily retired to Jaquijahuana (Huchuy Qosqo) while his son Inca Urco ruled the city of Cusco. Inca Urco's reign was short and marked by excess and corruption; he did not conquer any new lands. During this time, the Chancas decided to attack Cusco. Knowing this, Wiracocha, Inca Urco, and their wives fled the city, leaving Cusco defenseless.

This chaos provided the perfect opportunity for Cusi Yupanqui to lead the defense of Cusco. After the Inca victory against the Chancas, Cusi Yupanqui was crowned the new Sapa Inca, taking the name Pachacuti. Inca Urco was killed by Pachacuti's forces during a battle for power, and Wiracocha Inca died of natural causes. His mummy was kept in his palace in Jaquijahuana (Huchuy Qosqo) until the arrival of the Spanish. Gonzalo Pizarro later seized the mummy, took all the gifts and gold, and burned it.

The great Inca Emperors

The Inca Empire reached its greatest size with these kings, extending from Ecuador to Chile. They were great military leaders and conquered many lands for the Tawantinsuyo.

9. Pachacuti (1438-1471)

Cusi Yupanqui, also known as Inca Yupanqui, rose to power after successfully defending Cusco and defeating the fearsome Chancas. Under his leadership, the Incas transformed from a small tribe in the Cusco Valley into the powerful Inca Empire. He quelled rebellions in Cusco, including those by the Ayarmas, the long-time rivals of the Incas. He also subjugated the Sinchis (military leaders) and various provinces in Cusco, including Tocari Topa from Ollantaytambo.

After establishing order in the Cusco region, Pachacuti began military campaigns outside of Cusco, targeting the Chancas in the Apurímac region and Vilcashuamán in Huamanga, where he built a temple for the sun god Inti. The next major campaign was in Collasuyu, the region around Lake Titicaca, eventually reaching the Arequipa region. During this time, Tupac Yupanqui, the son of the Sapa Inka and Coya Mama Anahuarque, was born.

As the Inca Empire grew and Pachacuti aged, he delegated the task of expanding the empire to his generals. He launched new expeditions in his name; the first was led by his brother Capac Yupanqui, and later by his son Tupac Yupanqui.

Under General Capac Yupanqui, the Incas conquered the Chincha Kingdom, the Huancas of Jauja, Tarma, Huaylas, and finally reached Cajamarca in northern Peru. Capac Yupanqui, feeling proud of his accomplishments, boasted that he had achieved more than his brother Pachacuti, which angered the king, leading to his execution.

Around 1460, when Pachacuti was nearly 60 years old, he appointed his son Amaru Inca Yupanqui as co-ruler. However, Amaru was not as ambitious or capable as expected, so Pachacuti removed him and appointed his other son, Tupac Yupanqui, as co-ruler.

With Tupac Yupanqui, the Incas conquered the powerful Chimu Empire and its capital, Chan Chan. They also conquered the Chachapoyas region, home to the great fortress of Kuelap. After a brief pause, the Incas continued their campaign north, conquering the Cañaris in Quito and building Tomebamba, where his son Huayna Capac was born.

In northern Peru, Tupac Yupanqui learned of two islands called Ahuachumbi and Ninachumbi, which may have been the Galapagos, Easter Island, or as far as Polynesia. After this expedition, Tupac Yupanqui returned to Cusco, reuniting with his father Pachacuti after 6 years.

While his son was conquering new lands, Sapa Inca Pachacuti implemented a series of reforms that strengthened the Inca Empire politically, economically, and militarily. He built many impressive monuments, including Machu Picchu, and developed an advanced system of roads and bridges. Under Pachacuti's rule, the Inca Empire reached its peak of power and prosperity. The empire, known as Tawantinsuyo, was divided into four regions: Antisuyo, Contisuyo, Collasuyo, and Chinchaysuyo, with Cusco at its center.

Pachacuti died of natural causes, and his body was mummified and placed in a temple in Tococache (San Blas District). He was succeeded by his son, Tupac Yupanqui.

10. Tupac Yupanqui (1471–1493)

After his father's death, Tupac Yupanqui continued the expansion of the Inca Empire. Upon rising to power, he launched a military campaign into Antisuyo, the Amazon region. Unfortunately, the dense jungle, lack of trails, and diseases reduced his troops, but they eventually reached the region of Paititi (Madre de Dios) and conquered the local tribes.

During the jungle expedition, they received news that the Collao (Lake Titicaca region) was in revolt, and the Incas needed to return immediately. Tupac Yupanqui suppressed the rebellion with great severity, killing the leaders and displaying their heads as a warning. Only after the revolt was completely quashed did he return to Cusco.

His next expedition went south to the Maule River in Chile, where they encountered fierce resistance from the Mapuche tribe. He sent explorers further south to the Strait of Magellan, who returned with reports that the land was cold and arid. This motivated Tupac Yupanqui to return to Cusco.

Tupac Yupanqui died at the age of 45 in Chinchero, possibly poisoned by Chuqui Ocllo, one of his wives, because he named his successor as Titu Cusi Hualpa (Huayna Cápac) instead of Cápac Huari.

Theory of the Discovery of Polynesia: Spanish chroniclers wrote that Túpac Yupanqui, while on the northern coast, heard about distant islands with gold. He gathered a large fleet and sailed with 20,000 men to islands called Ninachumbi and Ahuachumbi.

Historian José Antonio del Busto suggested these islands might be Mangareva and Rapa Nui. He found evidence, such as legends in Mangareva about a king named Tupa who arrived on rafts with gold and crafts. Similar stories are in the Marquesas Islands. He also noted that structures on Rapa Nui are like Inca buildings in Cusco. This idea is supported by Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki expedition.

Stories say Túpac Yupanqui returned after two years with black people (likely Polynesian prisoners), brass chairs, and animal skins, which were kept in Sacsayhuamán fortress.

11. Huayna Capac (1493–1525)

He was the 11th ruler of the Inca Empire and is considered one of the most successful. He expanded the empire to its greatest size and initiated a period of prosperity and peace. Under his rule, the Incas built many new roads and temples and developed an extensive irrigation system. 

He began his reign by consolidating the territories conquered by his father. He traveled south to the Maule River in Chile and Tucumán in Argentina, entered the Collao region, and then moved north to strengthen the empire's northern territories.

Due to constant revolts in the north, particularly with the Quitus, Cayambes, Caranquis, Pastos, and Huancavilcas, Huayna Capac made alliances with local leaders and strengthened the military with generals who were not from Cusco. To better manage rebellions near Quito, Huayna Capac moved his court to Tomebamba, creating a new power center that competed with Cusco. This shift weakened traditional power and split the leadership.

Huayna Capac died in 1525 of smallpox brought by the Spaniards from Central America. The first possible heir to the throne was Ninan Cuyochi, but he also died. Huayna Capac then chose Tupac Cusi Hualpa (Huáscar) as the ruler, but another son, Atahualpa, and the leaders in Quito disagreed. This disagreement led to a civil war just before the Spanish arrived.

The Battle of Yahuarcocha: The Battle of Yahuarcocha was a conflict between the Inca Empire and the Caranqui people in the late 1400s or early 1500s. The Incas emerged victorious and took control of the region. After the initial conquest, some local tribes, including the Caranqui, rebelled. Huayna Capac, the Inca leader, moved his forces to Quito and led a decisive attack near Caranqui.

The Incas set a trap and defeated the Caranqui, resulting in a massive massacre that even the nearby lake turned red with blood, earning it the name "Yahuarcocha," which means "Lake of Blood." This battle ended resistance in the north, but it also weakened the region and contributed to the civil war between Inca leaders Huáscar and Atahualpa.

12. Huascar (1525–1532)

Huáscar, the son of Huayna Capac and Rahua Ocllo, was recognized as Sapa Inca, while his brother Atahualpa was appointed vice-governor of Quito. He introduced reforms to strengthen his authority, such as burying the mummies of past Inca Kings and seizing noble properties. These actions led to widespread discontent and rumors of rebellion.

Huáscar viewed Atahualpa as a threat because of his strong support in Quito and his experience from their father's military campaigns. Although Atahualpa initially agreed not to expand his territory and to pay tribute to Huáscar, this peace lasted less than five years. 

Huáscar declared war and sent armies to the north, but they were defeated by Atahualpa's experienced generals. The civil war culminated in the Battle of Quipaipán, where Atahualpa's generals, Chalcuchímac and Quizquiz, defeated Huáscar's army. Huáscar was captured while trying to escape.

Quizquiz led Atahualpa's forces into Cusco, the empire's capital, destroying parts of Cusco and killing many of Huáscar's supporters. This destruction weakened the Inca Empire, making it easier for the Spanish to conquer it shortly afterward.

Following the defeat of the Cusco army, Huáscar was taken barefoot, half-naked, and bound by the neck to Atahualpa. However, before they could meet, Pizarro captured Atahualpa in Cajamarca. Fearing that Pizarro might restore Huáscar to power, Atahualpa ordered his execution in Andamarca. Huáscar's body was thrown into the Yanamayo River.

13. Atahualpa (1532–1533)

Atahualpa was the last emperor of the Inca Empire, although he was never officially crowned. He ruled from 1532 to 1533, when the Spanish conquistadors captured and executed him.

Atahualpa was likely born in Quito and was the son of Huayna Capac and Pacha Duchicela, a princess from the northern region. However, this theory is not fully verified. Many historians believe that Atahualpa was actually born in Cusco as the son of an Inca princess, and the story of his birth in Quito was invented by Huáscar's supporters to justify his status as a bastard king.

Growing up close to his father in Quito, Atahualpa learned leadership and military strategy directly from him. He accompanied Huayna Capac on several military campaigns in the north, where he gained valuable experience and won the loyalty of many soldiers and generals. 

In November 1532, Atahualpa was at the hot springs outside Cajamarca, camping with an army of around 70,000 soldiers. Pizarro arrived with around 168 soldiers and 62 cavalrymen and requested a meeting with the Inca king. Atahualpa entered Cajamarca with about 6,000 to 7,000 Inca soldiers, mostly unarmed and serving as an escort. He did not expect an attack and believed his forces were enough to demonstrate his power to the Spanish. The Inca soldiers were caught off guard by the Spanish ambush, as they were unprepared for battle and lacked weapons to defend themselves effectively.

Despite Atahualpa's promise to fill a room with gold and silver in exchange for his freedom, Pizarro ordered his execution. Atahualpa's death marked the end of the Inca Empire and the beginning of Spanish rule in Peru.

The last Inca Kings

They are known as the Neo-Inca State rulers, the Inca kings of Vilcabamba, the last capital of the Incas.

Manco Inca (1533 – 1544)

Manco Inca, the son of Huayna Capac and Mama Runtu, escaped Cusco when General Quizquiz destroyed it. After Huascar's death, he became the next Inca ruler. When Pizarro executed Atahualpa in July 1533, Manco Inca was already in power. He met Pizarro in November 1533, believing at first that the Spaniards were there to help, but soon he understood their true intentions.

Manco Inca II gathered a vast army in the Sacred Valley and attacked the city of Cusco in 1536. The Inca battalions captured the Sacsayhuaman fortress, positioned on a hill overlooking Cusco, and launched attacks on the Spanish from there.

After a failed attempt to retake Cusco, Manco Inca retreated to Ollantaytambo, where he prepared for another battle against the Spanish. In 1537, the Battle of Ollantaytambo took place, where Manco Inca forces successfully repelled a Spanish attack. This victory at Ollantaytambo was a significant moment of resistance against the Spanish. Eventually, Manco Inca was forced to retreat further into the jungle, where he became the first ruler of the Neo-Inca State of Vilcabamba.

In 1544, at age forty, Manco Inca was killed by Diego Mendez, and six fugitives sheltered in Vilcabamba. Mendez betrayed Manco Inca, killing him to gain favor with Spanish authorities.

Sayri Tupac (1544–1560)

Sayri Túpac Inca was born in the village of Vilcabamba. He was about nine years old when the Spanish fugitives assassinated his father. Since he was too young, he was helped by tutors and wiser men to rule in Vilcabamba. Unfortunately, because of his lack of experience, Sayri Túpac did not take any action to retake the Inca Empire. Instead, he and his advisors focused on creating a new empire in Vilcabamba and preserving Inca culture and traditions.

The Spanish Governor of Peru saw this as a chance to start negotiations with the rebel Incas. After many expeditions to Vilcabamba, Sayri Túpac and his advisors agreed to make a pact with the Spaniards. On January 5th, 1558, Sayri Túpac entered Lima and was received with glory. When he returned to Cusco, he was granted all the promised benefits, such as lands in Yucay and Cusco and income for himself and his children. This strategy aligned with the Habsburgs' approach of forming alliances with powerful families to ensure control over their territories.

Sayri Túpac and his wife, Cusi Huarcay, were baptized into Catholicism and took the names Diego de Mendoza and Maria Manrique. He began building his palace in Yucay, but he died suddenly in 1561, possibly poisoned by rivals who wanted his lands there.

Titu Cusi Yupanqui (1563–1571)

Titu Cusi was a son of Manco Inca born out of wedlock, and when his father was assassinated, he was a 14-year-old boy who witnessed everything. The legitimate heir to the throne was Tupac Amaru, but since he was too young, Titu Cusi Yupanqui called him "Uti" (meaning "fool") and kept him with the mamaconas, or Virgins of the Sun.

Once on the throne, Titu Cusi began attacking nearby encomiendas, quickly gaining wealth and causing hostility between the Incas and Spaniards. The Governor of Cusco sent emissaries to negotiate with the rebel Incas, and after a few expeditions, both sides signed the Capitulation of Acobamba in 1566. This agreement recognized Titu Cusi as the new Inca King, and he agreed to be baptized into Catholicism under the name Diego de Castro.

Among the agreements, the Inca King authorized missionaries to enter the Vilcabamba region for the first time. The chosen friars were Marcos García and Diego Ortiz. In 1572, Titu Cusi after attending a celebration where his father was buried and drinking heavily, Titu Cusi fell ill the next day and died. Friar Diego Ortiz was found guilty of poisoning him and was executed.

Titu Cusi wrote a book called "An Inca Account of the Conquest of Peru" with the help of Martin Pando. This book is available for purchase on Amazon.

Túpac Amaru I (1571–1572)

The last Inca emperor of Vilcabamba was the son of Manco Inca Yupanqui. After Titu Cusi's death in 1571, the Inca generals gave him the title of Sapa Inca. With him, the most extreme Inca religious and military leaders came to power, and the last bloody wars in the Vilcabamba region began. 

The new Viceroy of Peru, Francisco de Toledo, had recently arrived in Peru. He conducted extensive travels throughout the country, recording everything and taking a census to better organize the colony and implement new policies. Among his directives was the order to end the Inca government system and justify the Spanish conquest by portraying the Incas as authoritarian.

Another goal of the new viceroy was to establish a strong colony in Peru. He decided there could not be two kings in Peru, so he needed to end the rebellion in Vilcabamba. Not knowing Titu Cusi was dead, the viceroy sent ambassadors to request that the Inca show submission to the new viceroy and the Spanish king. This diplomatic expedition ended in disaster when Atiliano de Ayana was executed, giving Toledo enough reason to declare war on Vilcabamba.

After a series of incursions with heavily armed battalions, the Spaniards finally managed to enter the last stronghold of the Incas in 1572. Tupac Amaru fled from Vilcabamba but was captured deep in the Amazon, along with his pregnant wife, by Captain Garcia de Loyola on September 21, 1572. The prisoners were transported to Cusco. The last Inca king was beheaded in the main plaza of Cusco, and his head was displayed for two days. The last capital of the Incas was renamed San Francisco de la Victoria.

With Tupac Amaru's death, the last hope of the Incas died as well, and with him, all his descendants. The last Inca resistance and the royal dynasty ended because Túpac Amaru had no sons. However, he did have two daughters. One of them, Juana Pilcohuaco, married Diego Felipe Condorcanqui, a leader in the region. From their marriage came another rebel, Túpac Amaru II, who fought against the Spanish in the 18th century.

Peruvian Indigenous Leaders

Juan Santos Atahualpa

A notable indigenous leader, Juan Santos Atahualpa, led a rebellion against Spanish colonial rule in the Amazon region of Peru in 1742. He claimed to be a descendant of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and aimed to restore the Inca Empire and resist Spanish domination. His movement gained support from various indigenous groups and African slaves, becoming a symbol of resistance against colonial oppression. Although his ultimate fate remains uncertain, Juan Santos Atahualpa's legacy endures as an important figure in the fight for indigenous rights and freedom in Peru.

Túpac Amaru II

José Gabriel Condorcanqui, also known as Túpac Amaru II, was an important indigenous leader in the late 18th century who led a big uprising against Spanish rule in Peru. He was born in 1738 and said he was a direct descendant of the last Inca emperor, Túpac Amaru I. In 1780, Túpac Amaru II started a large revolt against Spanish oppression because he wanted to stop the exploitation of indigenous people and achieve independence.

His rebellion spread quickly across the Andes, but in 1781, the Spanish forces defeated it. Túpac Amaru II was captured and executed in a brutal way. However, his fight against colonialism became a strong symbol of resistance and inspired future independence movements in Latin America.