Chinchay Suyu or Chinchasuyu () was the northwestern provincial region of the Tawantin Suyu, or Inca Empire. The most populous ''suyu'' (or Quarter, the largest division of the Inca Empire), Chinchasuyu encompassed the former lands of the Chimú Empire and much of the northern

Andes The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the List of longest mountain chains on Earth, longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range ...

. At its largest extent, the ''suyu'' extended through much of modern Ecuador and just into modern Colombia. Along with

Antisuyu Antisuyu ( , ; ) was the eastern part of the Inca Empire which bordered on the modern-day Upper Amazon region which the Asháninka, Anti inhabited. Along with Chinchaysuyu, it was part of the ''Inca Government#Organization of the empire, Hanan ...

, it was part of the '' Hanan Suyukuna'' or "Upper Quarters" of the empire. The name is due to the Chincha culture, which was a trader kingdom in what is now the Ica Region. ''Chinchay'' in Quechua stands for the tigrillo, animal present, although not physically, in some cultures of this region due to the Amazonian influence during the Early Horizon and Early Intermediate, such as the

Chavín culture The Chavín culture was a Pre-Columbian era, pre-Columbian civilization, developed in the northern Andean highlands of Peru around 900 BCE, ending around 250 BCE. It extended its influence to other civilizations along the Peruvian coast.Burger, R ...

or the commercial exchange between the Huarpa -civilization located in modern-day

Ayacucho Ayacucho (, , derived from the words ''aya'' ("death" or "soul") and ''k'uchu'' ("corner") in honour of the battle of Ayacucho), founded in 1540 as San Juan de la Frontera de Huamanga and known simply as Huamanga (Quechua: Wamanga) until 1825, i ...

that had trading routes to the Amazonas- and Nazca cultures. Before the

Inca Civil War The Inca Civil War, also known as the Inca Dynastic War, the Inca War of Succession, or, sometimes, the War of the Two Brothers, was fought between half-brothers Huáscar and Atahualpa, sons of Huayna Capac, over succession to the throne of t ...

began,

Atahualpa Atahualpa (), also Atawallpa or Ataw Wallpa ( Quechua) ( 150226 July 1533), was the last effective Inca emperor, reigning from April 1532 until his capture and execution in July of the following year, as part of the Spanish conquest of the In ...

, the son of the deceased Inca Emperor

Huayna Capac Huayna Capac (; Cuzco Quechua: ''Wayna Qhapaq'' ) (before 14931527) was the third Sapa Inca of Tawantinsuyu, the Inca Empire. He was the son of and successor to Túpac Inca Yupanqui,Sarmiento de Gamboa, Pedro; 2015, originally published in Sp ...

, inherited and ruled the majority of Chinchasuyu from his capital city in Quito, supported by Huayna Capac's veteran Inca generals and soldiers. The 12th Inca, Huayna Capac, knowing that he was about to die, gave orders to place his heart and organs in an Urn and have it buried in Quito, the city he loved. Moreover, Huayna Capac gave instructions that his mummified body should be transported to

Cuzco Cusco or Cuzco (; or , ) is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountain range and the Huatanay river. It is the capital of the eponymous province and department. The city was the capital of the Inca Empire unti ...

for burial beside the mummified bodies of his royal ancestors. The Inca Emperor Huascar who was the eldest son of Huayna Capac, ruled the rest of the Inca Empire from Cuzco, and was displeased that Atahualpa was crown King in Quito. Spanish chroniclers refer to Atahualpa's Kingdom as the Kingdom of Quito. The Inca Huascar was not able to do anything since the best soldiers in the Inca Empire swore allegiance to Atahualpa. After 4 or 5 years of peace, the nobles as well as the mother of the Inca Huascar, Rava Ocllo. encouraged him to reconquer the Kingdom of Atahualpa which spanned most of the Chinchasuyu. Huascar sent an ultimatum to Atahualpa asking for submission, Atahualpa refused, and a young General Atoc was sent to invade and reconquer the Kingdom of Quito from Atahualpa.

Wamani

Each ''suyu'' was divided into ''wamani'', or provinces. Chinchaysuyu included the ''wamani'' of: *Atavillo of Atawillu, in the modern province of

Canta Canta is a town in the Lima Region, in western Peru. The town is located on the Chillón River and is the capital of the Canta Province. With a population of 2,385 ( 2017 census), it is also the capital of Canta District. It is frequently visit ...

. *Ayavaca or Ayawax’a *

Cajamarca Cajamarca (), also known by the Quechua name, ''Kashamarka'', is the capital and largest city of the Cajamarca Region as well as an important cultural and commercial center in the northern Andes. It is located in the northern highlands of Per ...

or Q’asamarka * Cajatambo or Q’asatampu *Calva or Kalua * Casma * Chachapoya, including the Wanka tribe * Chancay * Chao or Suo * Chicama * Chicla or Chillqa *

Chimbote Chimbote ; ) is a city in northwestern Peru. It is the largest city in the Ancash Region and the List of cities in Peru, tenth most populous in Peru. With a population of 425,367 in 2017, it is the capital of both Santa Province and Chimbote Dist ...

or Sancta *

Chimu Chimor (also Kingdom of Chimor or Chimú Empire) was the political grouping of the Chimú culture (). The culture arose about 900 CE, succeeding the Moche culture, and was later conquered by the Inca emperor Topa Inca Yupanqui around 1470, f ...

, also called Moche. * Chincha *Chinchayqucha, also called in sources by the name of Junín. * Conchuco * Huacrachuco *

Huamachuco Huamachuco (possibly from Quechuan languages, Quechua ''waman'', falcon or variable hawk, and Kulyi language, Kulyi ''chuco'', earth or land, "land of falcons") is a town in northern Peru and capital of the province Sánchez Carrión Province, ...

*Huamali *Huambo or Wampu * Huancabamba or Wañkapampa * Huancavilca or Wankawillka *

Huánuco Huánuco (; ) is a city in central Peru. It had a population of 196,627 as of 2017 and in 2015 it had a population of 175,068. It is the capital of the Huánuco Region and the Huánuco District. It is the seat of the diocese of Huánuco. The met ...

*Huarco, also called Runawana and Cañete * Huarmey * Huaura, also called Huacho or Supe * Huayla or Waylla * Lambayeque, whose people spoke Mochica. *Lima or Rimaq, a large province of perhaps 150,000 inhabitants. * Lurin, home of the Oracle at

Pachacamac Pachacámac () is an archaeological site southeast of Lima, Peru in the Valley of the Lurín River. The site was first settled around A.D. 200 and was named after the "Earth Maker" creator god Pacha Kamaq. The site flourished for about 1,300 ye ...

. * Mala *

Moyobamba Moyobamba () or Muyupampa ( Quechua ''muyu'' circle, ''pampa'' large plain, "circle plain") is the capital city of the San Martín Region in northern Peru. Called "Santiago of eight valleys of Moyobamba" or "Maynas capital". There are 50,073 inh ...

or Moyopampa * Nepeña or Wampachu * Ocro, including both the Ocro and Lampa tribes. * Olmos or Olmo * Pacasmayo *Parmunca *Pinco, in Ancash Department * Pisco *

Piura Piura is a city in northwestern Peru, located north of the Sechura Desert along the Piura River. It is the capital of the Piura Region and the Piura Province. Its population was 484,475 as of 2017 and it is the 7th most populous city in Peru. ...

*Shawsha or Jauja *

Tarma Santa Ana de la Ribera de Tarma, known as Tarma, is the capital city of Tarma Province in Junín Region, Peru. The city has a population of 43,042 as of the 2017 census. History Pre-Hispanic era Recent archaeological excavations show that pri ...

or Tarama * Tumbes or Tumpis * Virú or Wanapu, likely the origin of the word Perú. * Yauyo, including the Larao tribe.

References

Subdivisions of the Inca Empire {{Pre-Columbian-stub

Wamani

See also

References