Pachacuti: Builder of the Inca Empire Timeline

Pachacuti: Builder of the Inca Empire 20

1418 Pachacuti is born as Cusi Yupanqui in Cusco c. 1418: a younger son of the Inca ruler Viracocha Pachacuti was born Cusi Yupanqui, a son of Viracocha Inca and Mama Runtu. He was not the chosen heir; his father favoured his brother Inca Urco.
1438 Pachacuti defeats the Chanka at Yawarpampa c. 1438: the 'Field of Blood' battle ends the Chanka threat A second battle at Yawarpampa finished off the Chanka army. With the victory, Cusi Yupanqui became the most powerful figure in the Cusco region.
1438 Pachacuti has a vision at the Susurpuquio spring c. 1438: a divine figure promises him victory, according to Inca tradition Colonial chronicles record that before the battle Cusi Yupanqui saw a radiant figure, identified with the sun or the creator god, reflected in a crystal at the spring. The vision became central to his later religious reforms.
1438 – 1440 Pachacuti removes his rival brother Inca Urco c. 1438–1440: the designated heir is killed in the succession struggle Inca Urco, whom Viracocha had named as heir, was defeated and killed. His name was later left off the official list of Inca rulers.
1438 Pachacuti repels the Chanka assault on Cusco c. 1438: legend says stones turned into warriors, the pururaucas, to fight for him Cusi Yupanqui's forces beat back the Chanka attack on the city. Inca tradition says the stones of the field rose up as warriors to help the defenders.
1438 Pachacuti stays to defend Cusco as Viracocha Inca flees the Chanka c. 1438: the Chanka confederation marches on the Inca capital When the Chanka army advanced on Cusco, the old ruler Viracocha and his heir Urco left the city. Cusi Yupanqui stayed behind with a few commanders to organise its defence.
1438 Pachacuti takes the throne as Sapa Inca c. 1438: Cusi Yupanqui adopts the name Pachacuti, 'he who overturns the world' After pushing aside his father Viracocha, Cusi Yupanqui was crowned ruler and took the name Pachacuti. In the traditional chronology his accession marks the start of imperial Inca expansion.
1440 Pachacuti begins the fortress-temple of Sacsayhuamán c. 1440s: huge zigzag stone walls rise above Cusco Chroniclers say construction of Sacsayhuamán started under Pachacuti, and work continued under his successors. Its massive walls of fitted stone are among the best-known works of Inca engineering.
1440 Pachacuti conquers the Urubamba valley and builds Ollantaytambo c. 1440s: the Sacred Valley becomes royal land Pachacuti took the Ollantaytambo area and made it a royal estate, with terraces, temples and a planned town. Pisac was also developed as one of his estates.
1440 Pachacuti rebuilds Cusco as an imperial capital c. 1440s: new stone palaces, canalised rivers and a rebuilt Coricancha Pachacuti is credited with redesigning Cusco, traditionally said to be laid out in the shape of a puma. He rebuilt the Coricancha, the main temple of the sun, in fine fitted masonry.
1445 Pachacuti subdues the Colla and Lupaca of the Titicaca basin c. 1440s–1450s: the wealthy altiplano kingdoms come under Inca rule Pachacuti's campaigns brought the Colla and Lupaca peoples around Lake Titicaca into the Inca state, adding large herds of llamas and alpacas and many workers. The region rebelled more than once afterwards.
1450 Pachacuti founds Machu Picchu as a royal estate c. 1450: a mountain retreat above the Urubamba River Machu Picchu is generally thought to have been built as an estate for Pachacuti. Radiocarbon dating published in 2021 suggests it was in use by about 1420, which challenges the traditional dates for his reign.
1450 Pachacuti organises the empire into Tawantinsuyu, the four parts c. 1450s: Chinchaysuyu, Antisuyu, Collasuyu and Cuntisuyu meet at Cusco Tradition credits Pachacuti with dividing the realm into four quarters centred on Cusco, each run by its own governors. The Inca called their state Tawantinsuyu, 'the four parts together'.
1450 Pachacuti raises the cult of Inti to state religion c. 1450s: sun worship and festivals such as Inti Raymi take official form Pachacuti reorganised Inca religion around Inti, the sun god, and the ruler's descent from him. Chroniclers credit him with setting the ritual calendar, including the Inti Raymi solstice festival.
1450 Pachacuti uses mitma resettlement to control conquered peoples c. 1450s: whole communities moved across the Andes Under Pachacuti the Inca relied more and more on the mitma system, moving loyal colonists into newly conquered areas and sending restless groups elsewhere. This helped secure the provinces and spread Quechua.
1460 Pachacuti has his brother Capac Yupanqui executed Before 1463: the general had pushed north past his orders Capac Yupanqui led a campaign into Chinchaysuyu and reached as far as Cajamarca, going beyond the limits Pachacuti had set. When he returned to Cusco, Pachacuti had him put to death, reportedly out of fear of a rival.
1463 Pachacuti gives his son Topa Inca command of the army 1463: the future ruler begins his great northern campaigns In the traditional chronology Pachacuti handed military command to Topa Inca Yupanqui in 1463 and turned to governing Cusco. Topa Inca went on to campaign through the northern Andes into present-day Ecuador.
1470 Pachacuti's armies conquer the Kingdom of Chimor c. 1470: the coastal Chimú state and its capital Chan Chan fall Forces under Topa Inca defeated the Chimú, the strongest rival state on the Andean coast, and took their ruler Minchançaman to Cusco. Chimú metalworkers were also moved to the capital.
1471 Pachacuti abdicates in favour of Topa Inca Yupanqui 1471: the founder of the empire hands over the throne Old and in poor health, Pachacuti gave up power to his son Topa Inca Yupanqui. Topa Inca kept expanding the empire south into what is now Chile and Argentina.
1471 Pachacuti dies in Cusco c. 1471–1472: his mummy is kept and honoured by his royal lineage Pachacuti died soon after giving up the throne. His mummified body was cared for by his panaca, Hatun Ayllu, until Spanish official Polo de Ondegardo seized it in 1559.