History of the Incas

P >> Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa >> History of the Incas

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

As the child Yahuar-huaccac was a year among the shepherds without
leaving their huts, which served as a prison, no one knew where he was,
because he could not come forth, being well watched by the shepherds and
other guards. But it so happened that there was a woman in the place
called Chimpu Orma, native of the town of Anta, three leagues from
Cuzco. She was a concubine of the Sinchi Tocay Ccapac, and for this
reason she had leave to walk about and go into all parts as she pleased.
She was the daughter of the Sinchi of Anta, and having given an account
of the treatment of the child to her father, brothers, and relations,
she persuaded them to help in his liberation. They came on a certain day
and, with the pass given them by Chimpu Orma, the father and relations
arranged the escape of Yahuar-huaccac. They stationed themselves behind
a hill. Yahuar-huaccac was to run in a race with some other boys, to see
which could get to the top of the hill first. When the prince reached
the top, the men of Anta, who were hidden there, took him in their arms
and ran swiftly with him to Anta. When the other boys saw this they
quickly gave notice to the valiant guards, who ran after the men of
Anta. They overtook them at the lake of Huaypon, where there was a
fierce battle. Finally the Ayamarcas got the worst of it, for they were
nearly all killed or wounded. The men of Anta continued their journey to
their town, where they gave many presents to Yahuar-huaccac and much
service, having freed him from the mortal imprisonment in which Tocay
Ccapac held him. In this town of Anta the boy remained a year, being
served with much love, but so secretly that his father Inca Rocca did
not know that he had escaped, during all that time. At the end of a year
those of Anta agreed to send messengers to Inca Rocca to let him know of
the safety of his son and heir, because they desired to know and serve
him. The messengers went to Inca Rocca and, having delivered their
message, received the reply that the Inca only knew that the Ayamarcas
had stolen his son. They were asked about it again and again, and at
last Inca Rocca came down from his throne and closely examined the
messengers, that they might tell him more, for not without cause had he
asked them so often. The messengers, being so persistently questioned by
Inca Rocca, related what had passed, and that his son was free in Anta,
served and regaled by the chief who had liberated him. Inca Rocca
rejoiced, promised favours, and dismissed the messengers with thanks.
Inca Rocca then celebrated the event with feasts and rejoicings.

But not feeling quite certain of the truth of what he had been told, he
sent a poor man seeking charity to make enquiries at Anta, whether it
was all true. The poor man went, ascertained that the child was
certainly liberated, and returned with the news to Inca Rocca; which
gave rise to further rejoicings in Cuzco. Presently the Inca sent many
principal people of Cuzco with presents of gold, silver, and cloth to
the Antas, asking them to receive them and to send back his son. The
Antas replied that they did not want his presents which they returned,
that they cared more that Yahuar-huaccac should remain with them, that
they might serve him and his father also, for they felt much love for
the boy. Yet if Inca Rocca wanted his son, he should be returned on
condition that, from that time forwards, the Antas should be called
relations of the _orejones_. When Inca Rocca was made acquainted with
the condition, he went to Anta and conceded what they asked for, to the
Sinchi and his people. For this reason the Antas were called relations
of the Cuzcos from that time.

Inca Rocca brought his son Yahuar-huaccac to Cuzco and nominated him
successor to the Incaship, the _ayllus_ and _orejones_ receiving him as
such. At the end of two years Inca Rocca died, and Yahuar-huaccac, whose
former name was Titu Cusi Hualpa, remained sole Inca. Before Inca Rocca
died he made friends with Tocay Ccapac, through the mediation of Mama
Chicya, daughter of Tocay Ccapac, who married Yahuar-huaccac, and Inca
Rocca gave his daughter Ccuri-Occllo in marriage to Tocay Ccapac.

XXIII.

YAHUAR-HUACCAC INCA YUPANQUI COMMENCES HIS REIGN ALONE, AFTER THE DEATH
OF HIS FATHER[73].

When Yahuar-huaccac found himself in possession of the sole sovereignty,
he remembered the treason with which he had been betrayed by the
Huayllacans who sold him and delivered him up to his enemies the
Ayamarcas; and he proposed to inflict an exemplary punishment on them.
When the Huayllacans knew this, they humbled themselves before
Yahuar-huaccac, entreating him to forgive the evil deeds they had
committed against him. Yahuar-huaccac, taking into consideration that
they were relations, forgave them. Then he sent a force, under the
command of his brother Vicaquirau, against Mohina and Pinahua, four
leagues from Cuzco, who subdued these places. He committed great
cruelties, for no other reason than that they did not come to obey his
will. This would be about 23 years after the time when he rested in
Cuzco. Some years afterwards the town of Mollaca, near Cuzco, was
conquered and subjugated by force of arms.

[Note 73: _Yahuar_ means blood. _Huaccani_ to weep. Yahuar-huaccac
succeeded to Inca Rocca according to Garcilasso de la Vega, Montesinos,
Betanzos, Balboa, Yamqui Pachacuti and Sarmiento. Cieza de Leon and
Herrera have Inca Yupanqui. Garcilasso makes this Inca banish his son
Viracocha, who returns in consequence of a dream, and defeats the
Chancas. This all seems to be a mistake. It was Viracocha who fled, and
his son Inca Yupanqui, surnamed Pachacuti, who defeated the Chancas and
dethroned his father.]

Yahuar-huaccac had, by his wife Mama Chicya, three legitimate sons. The
eldest was Paucar Ayllu. The second, Pahuac Hualpa Mayta[74], was chosen
to succeed his father, though he was not the eldest. The third was named
Viracocha, who was afterwards Inca through the death of his brother.
Besides these he had three other illegitimate sons named Vicchu Tupac
because he subdued the town of Vicchu, Marca-yutu, and Rocca Inca. As
the Huayllacans wanted Marca-yutu to succeed Yahuar-huaccac, because he
was their relation, they determined to kill Pahuac Hualpa Mayta, who was
nominated to succeed. With this object they asked his father to let him
go to Paulo. Forgetting their former treason, he sent the child to its
grandfather Soma Inca with forty _orejones_ of the _ayllus_ of Cuzco as
his guard. When he came to their town they killed him, for which the
Inca, his father, inflicted a great punishment on the Huayllacans,
killing some and banishing others until very few were left.

[Note 74: Or Pahuac Mayta Inca (Garcilasso de la Vega, i. p. 23) so
named from his swiftness. _Pahuani_, to run.]

The Inca then went to the conquest of Pillauya, three leagues from Cuzco
in the valley of Pisac, and to Choyca, an adjacent place, and to Yuco.
After that he oppressed by force and with cruelties, the towns of
Chillincay, Taocamarca, and the Cavinas, making them pay tribute. The
Inca conquered ten places himself or through his son and captains. Some
attribute all the conquests to his son Viracocha.

This Inca was a man of gentle disposition and very handsome face. He
lived 115 years. He succeeded his father at the age of 19, and was
sovereign for 96 years. He left an _ayllu_ named _Aucaylli Panaca_, and
some are still living at Cuzco. The principal chiefs who maintain it are
Don Juan Concha Yupanqui, Don Martin Titu Yupanqui, and Don Gonzalo
Paucar Aucaylli. They are Hanan-cuzcos. The body of this Inca has not
been discovered[75]. It is believed that those of the town of Paulo have
it, with the Inca's _guauqui_.

[Note 75: In the margin of the MS., "The witnesses said that they
believed that the licentiate Polo found it." Navamuel.]

XXIV.

LIFE OF VIRACOCHA THE EIGHTH INCA[76].

[Note 76: All authorities agree respecting Viracocha as the eighth
Inca.]

As the Huayllacans murdered Pahuac Hualpa Mayta who should have
succeeded his father Yahuar-huaccac, the second son Viracocha Inca was
nominated for the succession, whose name when a child was Hatun Tupac
Inca, younger legitimate son of Yahuar-huaccac and Mama Chicya. He was
married to Mama Runtucaya, a native of Anta. Once when this Hatun Tupac
Inca was in Urcos, a town which is a little more than five leagues
S.S.E. of Cuzco, where there was a sumptuous _huaca_ in honour of Ticci
Viracocha, the deity appeared to him in the night. Next morning he
assembled his _orejones_, among them his tutor Hualpa Rimachi, and told
them how Viracocha had appeared to him that night, and had announced
great good fortune to him and his descendants. In congratulating him
Hualpa Rimachi saluted him, "O Viracocha Inca." The rest followed his
example and celebrated this name, and the Inca retained it all the rest
of his life. Others say that he took this name, because, when he was
armed as a knight and had his ears bored, he took Ticci Viracocha as the
godfather of his knighthood. Be it as it may, all that is certain is
that when a child, before he succeeded his father, he was named Hatun
Tupac Inca, and afterwards, for the rest of his life, Viracocha Inca.

After he saw the apparition in Urcos, the Inca came to Cuzco, and
conceived the plan of conquering and tyrannizing over all the country
that surrounds Cuzco. For it is to be understood that, although his
father and grandfather had conquered and robbed in these directions, as
their only object was rapine and bloodshed, they did not place garrisons
in the places they subdued, so that when the Inca, who had conquered
these people, died, they rose in arms and regained their liberty. This
is the reason that we repeat several times that a place was conquered,
for it was by different Incas. For instance Mohina and Pinahua, although
first overrun by Inca Rocca, were also invaded by Yahuar-huaccac, and
then by Viracocha and his son Inca Yupanqui. Each town fought so hard
for its liberty, both under their Sinchis and without them, that one
succeeded in subjugating one and another defeated another. This was
especially the case in the time of the Incas. Even in Cuzco itself those
of one suburb, called Carmenca, made war on another suburb called
Cayocachi. So it is to be understood that, in the time of the seven
Incas preceding Viracocha, although owing to the power they possessed in
the _ayllus_, they terrorized those of Cuzco and the immediate
neighbourhood, the subjection only lasted while the lance was over the
vanquished, and that the moment they had a chance they took up arms for
their liberty. They did this at great risk to themselves, and sustained
much loss of life, even those in Cuzco itself, until the time of
Viracocha Inca.

This Inca had resolved to subjugate all the tribes he possibly could by
force and cruelty. He selected as his captains two valiant _orejones_
the one named Apu Mayta and the other Vicaquirau, of the lineage of Inca
Rocca. With these captains, who were cruel and impious, he began to
subjugate, before all things, the inhabitants of Cuzco who were not
Incas _orejones_, practising on them great cruelties and putting many to
death. At this time many towns and provinces were up in arms. Those in
the neighbourhood of Cuzco had risen to defend themselves from the
_orejones_ Incas of Cuzco who had made war to tyrannize over them.
Others were in arms with the same motives as the Incas, which was to
subdue them if their forces would suffice. Thus it was that though many
Sinchis were elected, their proceedings were confused and without
concert, so that each force was small, and they were all weak and
without help from each other. This being known to Viracocha, it
encouraged him to commence his policy of conquest beyond Cuzco.

Before coming to treat of the nations which Viracocha Inca conquered, we
will tell of the sons he had. By Mama Runtucaya, his legitimate wife, he
had four sons, the first and eldest Inca Rocca, the second Tupac
Yupanqui, the third Inca Yupanqui, and the fourth Ccapac Yupanqui. By
another beautiful Indian named Ccuri-chulpa, of the Ayavilla nation in
the valley of Cuzco he also had two sons, the one named Inca Urco, the
other Inca Socso. The descendants of Inca Urco, however, say that he was
legitimate, but all the rest say that he was a bastard[77].

[Note 77: Urco is made by Cieza de Leon to succeed, and to have been
dethroned by Inca Yupanqui owing to his flight from the Chancas. Yamqui
Pachacuti records the death of Urco. Herrera, Fernandez, Yamqui
Pachacuti also make Urco succeed Viracocha.]

XXV.

THE PROVINCES AND TOWNS CONQUERED BY THE EIGHTH INCA VIRACOCHA.

Viracocha, having named Apu Mayta and Vicaquirau as his captains, and
mustered his forces, gave orders that they should advance to make
conquests beyond the valley of Cuzco. They went to Pacaycacha, in the
valley of Pisac, three leagues and a half from Cuzco. And because the
besieged did not submit at once they assaulted the town, killing the
inhabitants and their Sinchi named Acamaqui. Next the Inca marched
against the towns of Mohina, Pinahua, Casacancha, and Runtucancha, five
short leagues from Cuzco. They had made themselves free, although
Yahuar-huaccac had sacked their towns. The captains of Viracocha
attacked and killed most of the natives, and their Sinchis named Muyna
Pancu and Huaman Tupac. The people of Mohina and Pinahua suffered from
this war and subsequent cruelties because they said that they were free,
and would not serve nor be vassals to the Incas.

At this time the eldest son, Inca Rocca, was grown up and showed signs
of being a courageous man. Viracocha, therefore, made him
captain-general with Apu Mayta and Vicaquirau as his colleagues. They
also took with them Inca Yupanqui, who also gave hopes owing to the
valour he had shown in the flower of his youth. With these captains the
conquests were continued. Huaypar-marca was taken, the Ayamarcas were
subdued, and Tocay Ccapac and Chihuay Ccapac, who had their seats near
Cuzco, were slain. The Incas next subjugated Mollaca and ruined the town
of Cayto, four leagues from Cuzco, killing its Sinchi named Ccapac Chani
They assaulted the towns of Socma and Chiraques, killing their Sinchis
named Puma Lloqui and Illacumbi, who were very warlike chiefs in that
time, who had most valorously resisted the attacks of former Incas, that
they might not come from Cuzco to subdue them. The Inca captains also
conquered Calca and Caquia Xaquixahuana, three leagues from Cuzco, and
the towns of Collocte and Camal. They subdued the people between Cuzco
and Quiquisana with the surrounding country, the Papris and other
neighbouring places; all within seven or eight leagues round Cuzco. [_In
these conquests they committed very great cruelties, robberies, put many
to death and destroyed towns, burning and desolating along the road
without leaving memory of anything_.]

As Viracocha was now very old, he nominated as his successor his bastard
son Inca Urco, without regard to the order of succession, because he was
very fond of his mother. This Inca was bold, proud, and despised others,
so that he aroused the indignation of the warriors, more especially of
the legitimate sons, Inca Rocca, who was the eldest, and of the valiant
captains Apu Mayta and Vicaquirau. These took order to prevent this
succession to the Incaship, preferring one of the other brothers, the
best conditioned, who would treat them well and honourably as they
deserved. They secretly set their eyes on the third of the legitimate
sons named Cusi, afterwards called Inca Yupanqui, because they believed
that he was mild and affable, and, besides these qualities, he showed
signs of high spirit and lofty ideas. Apu Mayta was more in favour of
this plan than the others, as he desired to have some one to shield him
from the fury of Viracocha Inca. Mayta thought that the Inca would kill
him because he had seduced a woman named Cacchon Chicya, who was a wife
of Viracocha. Apu Mayta had spoken of his plan and of his devotion to
Cusi, to his colleague Vicaquirau. While they were consulting how it
should be managed, the Chancas of Andahuaylas, thirty leagues from
Cuzco, marched upon that city, as will be narrated in the life of Inca
Yupanqui. Inca Viracocha, from fear of them, fled from Cuzco, and went
to a place called Caquia Xaquixahuana, where he shut himself up, being
afraid of the Chancas. Here he died after some years, deprived of Cuzco
of which his son Cusi had possession for several years before his
father's death. Viracocha Inca was he who had made the most extensive
conquests beyond Cuzco and, as we may say, he tyrannized anew even as
regards Cuzco, as has been said above.

Viracocha lived 119 years, succeeding at the age of 18. He was Ccapac
101 years. He named the _ayllu_, which he left for the continuance of
his lineage, _Socso Panaca Ayllu_, and some are still living at Cuzco,
the heads being Amaru Titu, Don Francisco Chalco Yupanqui, Don Francisco
Anti Hualpa. They are Hanan-cuzcos.

This Inca was industrious, and inventor of cloths and embroidered work
called in their language _Viracocha-tocapu_, and amongst us _brocade_.
He was rich [_for he robbed much_] and had vases of gold and silver. He
was buried in Caquia Xaquixahuana and Gonzalo Pizarro, having heard that
there was treasure with the body, discovered it and a large sum of gold.
He burnt the body, and the natives collected the ashes and hid them in a
vase. This, with the Inca's _guauqui_, called _Inca Amaru_, was found by
the Licentiate Polo, when he was Corregidor of Cuzco.

XXVI.

THE LIFE OF INCA YUPANQUI OR PACHACUTI[78], THE NINTH INCA.

[Note 78: Inca Yupanqui surnamed Pachacuti was the ninth Inca. All
the authorities agree that he dethroned either his father Viracocha, or
his half brother Urco, after his victory over the Chancas, and that he
had a long and glorious reign.]

It is related, in the life of Inca Viracocha, that he had four
legitimate sons. Of these the third named Cusi, and as surname Inca
Yupanqui, was raised to the Incaship by the famous captains Apu Mayta
and Vicaquirau, and by the rest of the legitimate sons, and against the
will of his father. In the course of their intrigues to carry this into
effect, the times gave them the opportunity which they could not
otherwise have found, in the march of the Chancas upon Cuzco. It
happened in this way.

Thirty leagues to the west of Cuzco there is a province called
Andahuaylas, the names of the natives of it being Chancas. In this
province there were two Sinchis, [_robbers and cruel tyrants_] named
Uscovilca and Ancovilca who, coming on an expedition from near Huamanca
with some companies of robbers, had settled in the valley of
Andahuaylas, and had there formed a state. They were brothers. Uscovilca
being the elder and principal one, instituted a tribe which he called
Hanan-chancas or upper Chancas. Ancovilca formed another tribe called
Hurin-chancas or lower Chancas. These chiefs, after death, were
embalmed, and because they were feared for their cruelties in life, were
kept by their people. The Hanan-chancas carried the statue of Uscovilca
with them, in their raids and wars. Although they had other Sinchis,
they always attributed their success to the statue of Uscovilca, which
they called Ancoallo.

The tribes and companies of Uscovilca had multiplied prodigiously in the
time of Viracocha. It seemed to them that they were so powerful that no
one could equal them, so they resolved to march from Andahuaylas and
conquer Cuzco. With this object they elected two Sinchis, one named
Asto-huaraca, and the other Tomay-huaraca, one of the tribe of
Hanan-chanca, the other of Hurin-chanca. These were to lead them in
their enterprise. The Chancas and their Sinchis were proud and insolent.
Setting out from Andahuaylas they marched on the way to Cuzco until they
reached a place called Ichu-pampa, five leagues west of that city, where
they halted for some days, terrifying the neighbourhood and preparing
for an advance.

The news spread terror among the _orejones_ of Cuzco, for they doubted
the powers of Inca Viracocha, who was now very old and weak. Thinking
that the position of Cuzco was insecure, Viracocha called a Council of
his sons and captains Apu Mayta and Vicaquirau. These captains said to
him--"Inca Viracocha! we have understood what you have proposed to us
touching this matter, and how you ought to meet the difficulty. After
careful consideration it appears to us that as you are old and infirm
owing to what you have undergone in former wars, it will not be well
that you should attempt so great a business, dangerous and with victory
doubtful, such as that which now presents itself before your eyes. The
wisest counsel respecting the course you should adopt is that you should
leave Cuzco, and proceed to the place of Chita, and thence to Caquia
Xaquixahuana, which is a strong fort, whence you may treat for an
agreement with the Chancas." They gave this advice to Viracocha to get
him out of Cuzco and give them a good opportunity to put their designs
into execution, which were to raise Cusi Inca Yupanqui to the throne. In
whatever manner it was done, it is certain that this advice was taken by
the Inca Viracocha. He determined to leave Cuzco and proceed to Chita,
in accordance with their proposal. But when Cusi Inca Yupanqui found
that his father was determined to leave Cuzco, they say that he thus
addressed him, "How father can it fit into your heart to accept such
infamous advice as to leave Cuzco, city of the Sun and of Viracocha,
whose name you have taken, whose promise you hold that you shall be a
great lord, you and your descendants." Though a boy, he said this with
the animated daring of a man high in honour. The father answered that he
was a boy and that he spoke like one, in talking without consideration,
and that such words were of no value. Inca Yupanqui replied that he
would remain where they would be remembered, that he would not leave
Cuzco nor abandon the House of the Sun. They say that all this was
planned by the said captains of Viracocha, Apu Mayta and Vicaquirau, to
throw those off their guard who might conceive suspicion respecting the
remaining of Inca Yupanqui in Cuzco. So Viracocha left Cuzco and went to
Chita, taking with him his two illegitimate sons Inca Urco and Inca
Socso. His son Inca Yupanqui remained at Cuzco, resolved to defend the
city or die in its defence. Seven chiefs remained with him; Inca Rocca
his elder and legitimate brother, Apu Mayta, Vicaquirau, Quillis-cacha,
Urco Huaranca, Chima Chaui Pata Yupanqui, Viracocha Inca Paucar, and
Mircoy-mana the tutor of Inca Yupanqui.

XXVII

COMING OF THE CHANCAS AGAINST CUZCO.

At the time when Inca Viracocha left Cuzco, Asto-huaraca and
Tomay-huaraca set out for Ichu-pampa, first making sacrifices and
blowing out the lungs of an animal, which they call _calpa_. This they
did not well understand, from what happened afterwards. Marching on
towards Cuzco, they arrived at a place called Conchacalla, where they
took a prisoner. From him they learnt what was happening at Cuzco, and
he offered to guide them there secretly. Thus he conducted them half
way. But then his conscience cried out to him touching the evil he was
doing. So he fled to Cuzco, and gave the news that the Chancas were
resolutely advancing. The news of this Indian, who was a Quillis-cachi
of Cuzco, made Viracocha hasten his flight to Chita, whither the Chancas
sent their messengers summoning him to surrender, and threatening war if
he refused. Others say that these were not messengers but scouts and
that Inca Viracocha, knowing this, told them that he knew they were
spies of the Chancas, that he did not want to kill them, but that they
might return and tell their people that if they wanted anything he was
there. So they departed and at the mouth of a channel of water some of
them fell and were killed. At this the Chancas were much annoyed. They
said that the messengers had been ordered to go to Inca Viracocha, and
that they were killed by his captain Quequo Mayta.

While this was proceeding with the messengers of the Chancas, the Chanca
army was coming nearer to Cuzco. Inca Yupanqui made great praying to
Viracocha and to the Sun to protect the city. One day he was at
Susurpuquio in great affliction, thinking over the best plan for
opposing his enemies, when there appeared a person in the air like the
Sun, consoling him and animating him for the battle. This being held up
to him a mirror in which the provinces he would subdue were shown, and
told him that he would be greater than any of his ancestors: he was to
have no doubt, but to return to the city, because he would conquer the
Chancas who were marching on Cuzco. With these words the vision animated
Inca Yupanqui. He took the mirror, which he carried with him ever
afterwards, in peace or war, and returned to the city, where he began to
encourage those he had left there, and some who came from afar[79]. The
latter came to look on, not daring to declare for either party, fearing
the rage of the conqueror if they should join the conquered side. Inca
Yupanqui, though only a lad of 20 or 22 years, provided for everything
as one who was about to fight for his life.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16