Sapa Inca - WikiHQ

thumb|Statue of the Sapa Inca [[Pachacuti wearing the Mascapaicha (imperial crown), in the main square of Aguas Calientes, Peru]]

The Sapa Inca (from ; ) was the monarch of the Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu "the region of the four [provinces]"), as well as ruler of the earlier Kingdom of Cusco and the later Neo-Inca State at Vilcabamba. While the origins of the position are mythical and originate from the legendary foundation of the city of Cusco, it seems to have come into being historically around AD 1100. Although the Inca believed the Sapa Inca to be the son of Inti (the sun god) and often referred to him as Inti churi "solar son" or Intip churin "son of the sun", the position eventually became hereditary, with son succeeding father. The principal wife of the Inca was known as the coya or quya. Inca Roca, the sixth Inca monarch, was evidently the first to bear the title sapa Inca ("emperor") officially.

There were two known dynasties, led by the Hurin and Hanan moieties respectively. The latter was in power at the time of Spanish conquest. The last effective Sapa Inca of Inca Empire was Atahualpa, who was executed by Francisco Pizarro and his conquistadors in 1533, but several successors later claimed the title.

Other terms for sapa Inca include apu ("lord"), qhapaq Inka ("mighty Inca") or simply sapa ("the only one").

Choosing the Inca

Chronicles identify the Inca as the highest ruler equivalent to European kings of the Middle Ages. However, the original access to that position was not linked to the inheritance of the eldest son, as is for a monarchy, but to the perceived selection of the gods by means of rigorous challenges, to which the physical and moral aptitudes of the aspirant were tested. for example, Huiracocha Inca associated Inca Urco to the throne. The coya, or sapa Inca's primary wife, had significant influence upon making this decision of which son is apt to succeed his father.

Functions

thumb|[[Tocapu or symbolic motif thought by Victoria de La Jara to represent the meaning of Sapa Inca (first row, first from the left).]]

The Sapa Inca was the absolute ruler of the empire and accumulated in his power the political, social, military, and economic direction of the state. or the urban plan of the cities. However, among their most notable works, was the network of roads that crossed the entire empire and allowed a rapid journey for the administrators, messengers, and armies provided with hanging bridges and tambos. They made sure to always be supplied and well cared for, as is reflected in the construction of storehouses scattered throughout the empire and vast food and resource redistribution systems. and organized the calendar. At the political level, they sent inspectors to oversee the loyalty and efficiency of civil servants and collect tribute from the subjugated peoples. The emperors promoted a unified and decentralized government in which Cuzco acted as the articulating axis of the different regions or suyu. They appointed highly trusted governors. At the economic level, they decided how much each province should pay according to its resources. They knew how to win over the kuraka to ensure control of the communities. These were the intermediaries through whom they collected taxes. Each time they subdued a people, they demanded that the defeated leader surrender part of their land to continue in command, and whose people pay tribute in the form of labor (mit'a) and taxes. With textiles representing a form of status and wealth, it has been speculated that the Sapa Inca never wore the same clothes twice.

{| style="text-align:center; width:100%" class="wikitable"

! Title

! Sapa Inca !! width=8% | Picture !! Birth !! Queen !! width=30% | Death

| rowspan="5" | Inca of Cusco

| Manco Capac || 120px || Considered the son of the sun god Inti || Mama Ocllo or Mama Waqu ||

| Sinchi Roca || 120px || Son of Manco Cápac || Mama Cora ||

| Lloque Yupanqui || 120px || Son of Sinchi Roca || Mama Cahua ||

| Mayta Capac || 120px || Son of Lloque Yupanqui || Mama Takukaray ||

| Capac Yupanqui || 120px || Son of Mayta Cápac || Mama Chimpu Qurihillpay ||

As a rough guide to the later reputation of the early Sapa Incas, in later years capac meant warlord and sinchi meant leader.

Second dynasty

The second dynasty was affiliated with the Hanan moiety and was founded under Inca Roca, the son of the last Hurin Sapa Inca, Cápac Yupanqui. After Cápac Yupanqui's death, another of his sons, Inca Roca's half-brother Quispe Yupanqui, was intended to succeed him. However, the Hanan revolted and installed Inca Roca instead.