'Huayna Capac'
In 1493, Huayna Capac (young lord rich in virtues), at one time ruled an Incan Empire on a grande scale. From the Pacific Coastline, it reached eastward across The Andes, and into The Amazonian lowlands. At the time of King Huayna Capac’s succession, he’d inherited an Empire, the largest of its kind that the Americas had ever been a witness to. Tahuantinsuyu; The name of this vast empire (the parts that in their fourness make up the whole). It encompassed four major geographical quarters; The Chinchaysuyu in the Northwest, the Antisuyu in the Northeast, the Cuntisuyu in the Southwest, and the Collasuyu in the Southeast.
The Northern Kingdom of Quito had just been acquired by Huayna Capac where he had prospected to found a second capitol city. In 1524, his army, and court was demolished by a mysterious disease that swept thru killing thousands of people. The Citua Ceremony was materialized to drive out from ‘The Four Quarters’ the mysterious disease, and the bad spirits. In the town center, one hundred Warriors lined up facing each of ‘The Four Quarters’. The Priest of ‘The Temple of The Sun’ initiated the beginning of the festival.
The Warriors, and the Townspeople chanted: “End to all disease, and away with all the bad spirits!” Then, in all of their Pride and Glory, the Warriors charged in the direction of the quarter their facing, until making contact with others whom would complete ‘The Citua Ceremony’ outside of the city. And disease along with the bad spirits were drowned into a river. And King Huayna Capac was not immune...killing he, and his presumptive Heir Ninan Coyoche.
Of this rich and affluent culture, it was not out of the ordinary for The Sapa Inca to nominate his Successor. The one chosen would not be based upon senority of age, but rather who was deemed most fit to Rule. In the state of Cuzco, The Inca Nobles proclaimed a new Sapa Inca Huascar (Sole Lord). His name means ‘Curious Hummingbird’. It is not an exaggeration on the part of his demeanor, nor his presence.
However, the whole of the court was not in Cuzco, but rather in the northern state of Quito. Huayna Capac conquered this empire. Quito was the final state to become part of the empire. The Quitenos are an intelligent cultured people. Huayna Capac kept The Monarchy intact, and it’s army an excellent one.
He fumbled not in his decision to spend the latter years of his life there. Quito has become a second capitol; placing brother against brother, fracturing the leaders of a once, and united empire. The Army stationed here clamored for another son of Huayna Capac, Atahuallpa, whose name means ‘Hungry Turkey Cock’; A bird who garners much respect in The Andes. He had more than proved himself, having spent most of his life at his father’s side in the field of battle.
King Huayna Capac is confronted by his own immortality. He does something that no Sapa Inca had ever done before him...Distribution of his empire, the biggest portion; The southern parts of Tahuantinsuyu. The Sapa Inca’s throne went to Huascar; Inti Cusi Huallpa (curious hummingbird). His son to his chief sister-wife. The northern territories of the empire of Quito are left to Atahuallpa (hungry turkey cock), son of Tocto Coca.
Atahuallpa is favored by his father, because of the love that did not die for his mother. Huayna Capac catered to his boys every whim. He’d feed him with his own sacred hands. He took him on all of his campaigns, and testimonials as the people’s king. Although, the father did learn a very important lesson from his son; It would not be his choice for which girl would toll the bells for Atahuallpa. And Atahuallpa’s first intimate conquest of a layman girl would not be his last.
The boy proved his natural ability for being a soldier. And with speed behind him he occupied the seat of a great general. Had Huayna Capac thought it feasible to pass down the empire in its entirety to Atahuallpa, he would have. But, he knew that by leaving him the state of Quito, with it’s people prone to War, and the veteran army stationed there, that all lye at the feet of Atahuallpa. And if he so chose to pick up these tools, that the entire empire could be his.
