Quilago (1485–1515) was a chieftainess or queen regnant of the

Cochasquí Cochasquí is the "most extensive and most important complex" of pre-Columbian and pre-Inca Empire ruins in northern Ecuador. The site lies some northeast of Quito in Pedro Moncayo Canton in Pichincha Province at above sea level. The archaeologi ...

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

, famed for her defense of the Cochasquí against the expansion of the

Inca Empire The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, (Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The admin ...

. She was a chieftainess or queen of the Cochasquí around

Tabacundo Tabacundo is the seat of Pedro Moncayo Canton, Pichincha Province, Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally transl ...

in Ecuador. From 1513 to 1515, she defended her chiefdom against the expansionism of the Inca Empire under

Huayna Capac Huayna Capac (with many alternative transliterations; 1464/1468–1524) was the third Sapan Inka of the Inca Empire, born in Tumipampa sixth of the Hanan dynasty, and eleventh of the Inca civilization. Subjects commonly approached Sapa Inkas addi ...

. She was finally defeated and placed under

house arrest In justice and law, house arrest (also called home confinement, home detention, or, in modern times, electronic monitoring) is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to their residence. Travel is usually restricted, if all ...

in her city in 1515. She was possibly placed in the harem of the Inca after her defeat and has been singled out as one of the possible mothers of the Inca

Atahualpa Atahualpa (), also Atawallpa (Quechua), Atabalica, Atahuallpa, Atabalipa (c. 1502 – 26-29 July 1533) was the last Inca Emperor. After defeating his brother, Atahualpa became very briefly the last Sapa Inca (sovereign emperor) of the Inca Empir ...

, Huayna Capac's heir, although this has never been confirmed. According to legend, she attempted to murder the Inca by setting a trap; however, he was alerted to her plans by spies, and instead, he had her thrown down the trap she had set for him.

References

*Becker, Marc; Tutillo, Silvia (2009). ''Historia agraria y social de Cayambe''. Quito: FLACSO / Ediciones Abya-Yala. p. 22. {{ISBN, 978-9978-67-214-3. Consultado el 8 de junio de 2015. Inca Empire people 15th-century births Women in 16th-century warfare Women in war in South America 16th-century women rulers 1485 births 1515 deaths Native American women in warfare Royalty in South America Queens regnant