Cápac Yupanqui Explained

Cápac Yupanqui
Qhapaq Yupanki Inka
Succession:Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco
Reign:
Predecessor:Mayta Cápac
Successor:Inca Roca
Birth Place:Cusco, Inca Empire, modern-day Peru
Death Date: (aged)
Death Place:Cusco, Inca Empire, modern-day Peru
Dynasty:Hurin
Father:Mayta Cápac
Mother:Mama Cuca
Spouse:Qorihillpay
Cusi Chimbo
Issue:Inca Roca
Quispe Yupanqui

Qhapaq Yupanki Inka (Quechua Qhapaq Yupanki Inka, "splendid accountant Inca") was the fifth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco (beginning around CE 1320) and the last of the Hurin dynasty.[1]

Family

Yupanqui was a son and successor of Mayta Cápac while his elder brother Cunti Mayta became high priest.[2]

His chief wife was Mama Cusi Hilpay (or Qorihillpay or Ccuri-hilpay), the daughter of the lord of Anta, previously a great enemy of the Incas.[3]

His son with a woman called Cusi Chimbo, founder of the Hanan dynasty, was Inca Roca.[4]

Reign

In legend, Yupanqui is a great conqueror; the chronicler Juan de Betanzos says that he was the first Inca to conquer territory outside the valley of Cusco—which may be taken to delimit the importance of his predecessors.

He subjugated the Cuyumarca and Ancasmarca. His sons from other women included Apu Calla, Humpi, Apu Saca, Apu Chima-chaui, Apu Urco Huaranca, and Uchun-cuna-ascalla-rando. He died in 1350.[2]

Garcilaso de la Vega reports that his administration improved the city of Cusco with many buildings, bridges, roads and aqueducts.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala (author), David Frye (translator), The First New Chronicle and Good Government. Hackett Publishing Co, Inc (2006)
  2. de Gamboa, P.S., 2015, History of the Incas, p 44. Lexington,
  3. Garcilaso de la Vega, The Incas: the royal commentaries of the Inca
  4. Catherine Julien, Reading Inca History