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The first Inkas' origin is lost in the obscurity of
past. Myth and legend try to replace this lost with different legends,
existing two very well known ones. The first one tells that the " Tayta
Inti" or "Father Sun" observing that chaos and starvation prevailed on
the earth, decided to send his two children in order to establish order.
They emerged from the waters of Titicaca Lake with a golden staff of
office given by their father. The name of the first mythical Inka was
Manko Qhapaq and his sister-wife was Mama Oqllo. They had to try to
plunge the staff in the earth and found where it happened the Capital of
their new reign. According to tradition the staff was plunged in the
Wanakauri mountain which is southeast of present-day Qosqo.
Interpretation of this legend has a very strong real support because it
suggests that Manko Qhapaq represents a whole nation possibly of
Tiawanako people. They lived in the Sacred Lake's region and it is known
that the most fertile lands over there are precisely around the lake;
thus there was a time when overpopulation and scarcity of lands obliged
that nation to look for another rich and ample region. It is also
suggested that possibly the Tiawanako state which capital was in
Taypiqala was destroyed by Aymara invaders coming from the southern
region, from Tucuman and Coquimbo, and its inhabitants obliged to
emigrate toward the Qosqo valley. It is demonstrated that the Tiawanako
or Tiwanaku (Bolivian name) civilization had a decisive participation in
the Tawantinsuyo's formation. The second legend is known as that of the
" Ayar Brothers" and indicates that from three windows in the Tamput'oqo
Mountain in Pakariqtanpu about 25 kms. (15.5 miles) south of Qosqo came
out four brothers. They were Ayar Manko (Manko Qhapaq), Ayar Kachi, Ayar
Auka and Ayar Uchu; every one along with his wife. They went towards the
Wanakauri Mountain and then to Qosqo where just the women and Manko
Qhapaq arrived founding the city in the name of Teqsi Wiraqocha and the
Sun. It is undeniable that the Inkan State had a peculiar social and
political organization. Its State Chief was the " Inka" or " Sapan Inka"
also known as " Sapan Intiq Churin" ("The Only Son of the Sun") who in
normal conditions must have had a wife whose generic name was " Qoya" .
In a simple way, "Inka" is equivalent to King and "Qoya" to Queen.
According to Andean tradition both of them were descendants of the "
Inti" or Sun God. In order to keep and perpetuate their solar blood the
Inka had to always marry his sister; couple from which had to be born
the throne's heir. More over, the "Sapan Inka" could have a limitless
amount of concubines and same amount of children. Tradition tells that
Wayna Qhapaq had more than 400 children. This privilege was valid just
for the Inka who occasionally could also give an additional wife to any
distinguished nobleman.
The Inka was the political and religious summary of the whole
Tawantinsuyo, he practiced an absolute sovereignty. Even more, he was
venerated as a Living God because it was considered that he was the Son
of the Sun. His people followed with submission all the orders he gave.
Those who surrounded him demonstrated their profound reverence when
getting close to him in act of extreme humility; in order to approach
him they had to carry some load on their backs and go looking down to
the ground. Only the closest noblemen to the Inka could talk to him and
they served him as intermediaries in official conversations with the
rest of people. Moreover, (according to the epoch's superstition) near
to him were always some of his women that collected his hair and saliva
in order to protect him from sorceries. He was transported over a golden
litter and his clothing made in vicuna wool had the best quality. Only
he used the symbolic " Maskaypacha" or royal badge, that was something
like a multicolored cord fastening in many turns the " Llauto" or red
tassel. It was framed with gold and adorned on the higher edge with a
brooch from which took rise three showy " Qoriq'ente" ("Golden
Hummingbird") feathers, distinguished for their rareness. Big golden
adornments hung from his earlobes deforming them. He wore a tunic to the
height of his knees and a cloak woven in the best vicuna wool encrusted
with emeralds and turquoise. He had golden shoulder pads and bracelets,
and a golden pectoral engraved with a stylized effigy of the sun. His
feet were covered with "p'olkos" or shoes made of leather and vicuna fur.
The Inka's extended family formed his " Panaka" that was supposed to
perpetuate his history's memory after his death, as well as take care of
his " Mallki" (mummy). It was his second son who had its head ship
because the first born was who succeeded him, although this did not
always happen in practice.
Today there is no consensus about the exact amount of Inkas that ruled
the Tawantinsuyo since its establishment. Some chroniclers and
historians suggest that they were 14, some others say that only 13; this
last amount is the most accepted one. Historic tradition recognizes the
first 8 ones since Manko Qhapaq until Wiraqocha as the mythical Inkas.
When arrival of the conquistadors happened there was almost exact memory
only since Pachakuteq who ruled between 1438 and 1471 succeeded by Tupaq
Inka Yupanqui that ruled from 1471 to 1493. Following was Wayna Qhapaq
between 1493 and 1527, later Waskar from 1525 to 1532, and finally
Atawallpa who usurped the throne in Tumipanpa (Cuenca, Ecuador) between
1527 and 1533. Nevertheless, the Inkan dynasty did not finish when
Spanish invaders arrived but later there was another succession of
rulers for the Quechua nation. Pizarro moved by diplomatic interests
nominated Toparpa or Tupaq Wallpa as the new Inka who was poisoned
traveling to Qosqo. Later, his right to the throne was recognized to
Manko Inka or Manko II, another son of Wayna Qhapaq who in 1536 began
the long war for the re-establishment of the Tawantinsuyo. He was
murdered in Vilcabamba by two fugitive Almagro followers and then was
succeeded by his son Sayri Tupaq who died in Yucay after having
selfishly agreed with the conquistadors. Sayri Tupaq's brother Titu Kusi
Yupanqui succeeded him, going back to Vilcabamba in order to continue
with the war. After Titu Kusi's death because of a sickness another
brother of his, Tupaq Amaru went on with his ideal being later shrewdly
captured by Spanish captain Martin Garcia Oñas de Loyola, who
subsequently would marry the Inka's niece. Tupaq Amaru was taken to
Qosqo and executed in the City's Main Square in presence of Viceroy
Francisco de Toledo on September 24th 1572, at the end of 36 years of
war for the re-establishment of the Tawantinsuyo and the rights of the
real owners of this part of the world.
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