Manco Cápac facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manqu Qhapaq |
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18th-century painting depicting Manco Cápac, Cusco School.
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| Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco | |
| Reign | c. 1200 - c. 1230 |
| Successor | Sinchi Roca |
| Born | Tamputoco, Cusco, Peru |
| Died | c. 1230 Cusco, Peru |
| Spouse | Mama Uqllu |
| Issue | Sinchi Roca |
| Father | Apu Tambo |
Manco Cápac (also called Manco Inca or Ayar Manco) was a very important figure in the history and legends of the Inca Empire. Many historians believe he was the first ruler and founder of the Inca civilization in Cusco. This likely happened around the early 1200s.
Manco Cápac is also a main character in Inca mythology. He is the hero of the two most famous stories about how the Inca people began. Both legends connect him to the founding of the city of Cusco. His main wife was his older sister, Mama Uqllu. She was also the mother of his son and the next ruler, Sinchi Roca. While many old writings mention Manco Cápac, we are not completely sure if he was a real person.
Contents
The Life of Manco Cápac
Where Manco Cápac Came From
Manco Cápac was born in a place called Tamputoco. Some people believe this place is in what is now the Pumaurco area of Peru. This city was often a safe place for people escaping attacks from the Aymara people. These attacks happened in a high-altitude region called the Altiplano. Manco Cápac's father was named Apu Tambo. Manco Cápac and his family did not stay in one place; they moved around a lot.
Founding the City of Cusco
After his father passed away, Manco Cápac became the leader of his group, known as an ayllu. This group included many families. They were nomads, meaning they traveled from place to place. Their journey through the Altiplano is similar to the story of the Ayar brothers legend.
When they reached the Cusco valley, they defeated three smaller tribes. These tribes were the Sahuares, Huallas, and Alcahuisas. After their victory, Manco Cápac's group settled in a marshy area. This area is now the main plaza of the city of Cusco. The new city was divided into four sections. These sections were Chumbicancha, Quinticancha, Sairecancha, and Yarambuycancha.
Manco Cápac's group only controlled a small part of the Cusco valley. Other larger and stronger tribes lived nearby. These tribes often threatened the new city. To the north, there was a powerful group of Ayarmacas and Pinaguas. All these tribes saw Manco Cápac and his people as invaders. They often attacked them. Manco Cápac, and later his son Sinchi Roca, had to defend Cusco against these other tribes.
The Death of Manco Cápac
Manco Cápac died naturally. He named his son, Sinchi Roca, as the next ruler in Cusco. His body was mummified, a process of preserving the body. His preserved body stayed in Cusco for a long time. Later, during the rule of Pachacuti, Manco Cápac's body was moved. It was taken to the Temple of the Sun on Isla del Sol. In Cusco, only a statue was left to honor him.
Mythological Stories of Manco Cápac
Manco Cápac is the main character in the two most important legends. These legends explain how the Inca Empire began. Both stories say that he founded the city of Cusco. They also agree that his wife was Mama Uqllu.
The Legend of the Ayar Brothers
In this story, Manco Cápac (also called Ayar Manco) was the son of Viracocha. He came from a place called Paqariq Tampu, which was about 25 kilometers south of Cusco. He and his brothers (Ayar Auca, Ayar Cachi, and Ayar Uchu) and sisters (Mama Ocllo, Mama Huaco, Mama Raua, and Mama Ipacura) lived near Cusco. They joined their people with other tribes they met on their travels. Their goal was to take control of the tribes in the Cusco Valley.
This legend also includes a golden staff. It was believed that Manco Cápac's father gave him this staff. Stories differ, but some versions say Manco got rid of his three brothers. He either trapped them or turned them into stone. This made him the sole leader of Cusco. He married his older sister, Mama Occlo, and they had a son named Sinchi Roca.
The Legend of Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo
In this second legend, Manco Cápac was the son of the sun god Inti and the moon goddess Mama Killa. He was also the brother of Pacha Kamaq. Manco Cápac himself was worshipped as a fire god and a Sun God.
According to this legend, Inti, the sun god, sent Manco Cápac and his siblings to earth. They came out of the cave of Pacaritambo. They carried a golden staff called tapac-yauri. They were told to build a Temple of the Sun where the staff sank into the earth. They traveled to Cusco through caves. There, they built a temple to honor their father, Inti.
However, this story was not written down before the year 1609. That is when Comentarios Reales de los Incas by Garcilaso de la Vega was published. Because of this, some people wonder if this legend is a true ancient Inca story.
Manco Cápac in Stories and Books
- The Scrooge McDuck comic book The Son of the Sun, written by Don Rosa, says Manco Cápac was the first owner of many lost treasures.
- In the first chapter of Herman Melville's The Confidence-Man, a mysterious character appears. His sudden arrival is compared to Cápac appearing from Lake Titicaca.
- In P.B. Kerr's Eye of the Forest, Manco Cápac is said to be a powerful Djinn. He became a god among the Incas by showing his power to control matter.
- In British author Anthony Horowitz's book series The Power of Five, Manco Cápac is the son of Inti. He is one of five children chosen to protect the universe from evil. Cápac is reborn in the 21st century as a Peruvian street beggar named Pedro.
- Kuzco, the main character from Emperor's New Groove, was originally going to be named Manco Cápac in an earlier version of the movie called Kingdom of the Sun.
Manco Cápac's Legacy
A car float (a type of boat that carries trains) named Manco Capac travels across Lake Titicaca. It goes between PeruRail's train station at Puno and the port of Guaqui in Bolivia.
See also
In Spanish: Manco Cápac para niños
