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The Inca emperors are broken up into two groups - the Lords of Cuzco and the Emperors of the Four Quarters. Because the Incas never developed a system of writing, there is no written proof that any of the Lords of Cuzco ever existed, although some may have. The second group, the emperors of the Four Quarters, did exist.
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Four brothers, Manco Capac, Ayar Anca, Ayar Cachi, and Ayar Uchu, and their four sisters, Mama Ocllo, Mama Huaco, Mama Cura (or Ipacura), and Mama Raua, lived at Paccari-Tampu [tavern of the dawn], several miles distant from Cuzco. They gathered together the tribes of their locality, marched on the Cuzco Valley, and conquered the tribes living there. Manco Capac had by his sister-wife, Mama Ocllo, a son called Sinchi Roca (or Cinchi Roca). Thus the foundation for an empire was laid.
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Manco Capac is the first ruler.The capital city of Cusco was the heart of the empire. It was situated about 11,000 feet above sea level high in the Andes Mountains. Most of the buildings were made of stone. The stonework was shaped so that each piece fit together perfectly, without the use of mortar.
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Pachacuti was the leader when these vistories began. In those times, warring tribes usually killed the people they conquered. However, Pachacuti did not kill the people he conquered. Instead, he invited them to become part of the Inca Empire. He built schools. He built fabulous cities and fortresses. He placed his royal relatives in positions of power in the government throughout the Empire. This expanded the empire to 2500 miles long and about 500 wide.
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Topa Inca respected Pachacuti to an extreme amount, and considered himself humbled to be able to repeat the actions of the previous ruler. Topa Inca started to attack in places much farther away than Pachacuti had done, conquering all land that he could. The victories expanded the Inca territory to almost 5,000 miles long and about 1,000 miles wide.
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In 1525, an Inca ruler died without first choosing an heir. This created an enormous problem. Two of his sons both wanted to be the next Sapa Inca. They were both qualified. One brother crowned himself Inca. But the other brother did not accept his rule.
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Civil war broke out in the Inca Empire. For five years, the brothers and their armies fought each other for the right to become the next Sapa Inca. Atahualpa finally won the war.
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The Spanish had heard about the fabled cities of gold from the conquered people who lived along fertile strips in the Coastal Desert. The Incas knew nothing about the Spanish conquest of other tribes in Mexico, to the north. To them, the Spanish were simply invaders. At any other time, the Inca probably would have ordered the immediate death of Francisco Pizarro and his band of 167 men.
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Atahualpa was overconfident. He had a plan to kill some of Pizarro’s men and keep the others as slaves. Pizarro had a plan of his own, though. He and his men kidnapped Atahualpa. Atahualpa told them that they could have as much gold as they wanted if they spared his life. Atahualpa was true to his word. The Spanish weren't. They killed Atahualpa and fled. When they returned, Pizarro had an army with him. The Spanish soon became the cruel rulers of the Inca Empire.
