--- title: Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui: Founder of the Inca Empire author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Pachacuti_Inca_Yupanqui/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2025-04-18 --- # Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui: Founder of the Inca Empire _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ Pachacuti [Inca](https://www.worldhistory.org/Inca_Civilization/) Yupanqui (often simply Pachacuti or Pachacutec) was the 9th Inca ruler (r. 1438 - 1471 CE) who founded their [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) with conquests in the [Cuzco](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cuzco/) Valley and beyond. Pachacuti is also credited with founding the site of [Machu Picchu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Machu_Picchu/). The Inca ruler's title Pachacuti, which he gave himself on his accession, means 'Reverser of the World' or 'Earth-shaker,' and the same word was used by the [Incas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Inca_Civilization/) to refer to the epoch-changing event or 'turning over of time and space' which they believed occurred regularly through history. An appropriate enough title, then, for a ruler who set his people on the road to prosperity and the creation of an empire which would eventually be the largest ever seen in the Americas. ### Rise to Power According to the semi-legendary early history of the Incas, Pachacuti rose to prominence when their [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/)-like neighbours, the Chanca, attacked Cuzco in the early 15th century CE. The Inca ruler at the time, [Viracocha](https://www.worldhistory.org/Viracocha/) Inca, and his son Inca Urco proved ineffectual in meeting this threat and fled the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/). The young prince Pachacuti (known then as Cusi Yupanki) and a small band of loyal warriors, inspired by a vision of a shining tablet sent by the Sun [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) [Inti](https://www.worldhistory.org/Inti/), decided to stay and make a stand. Still, things looked desperate and Pachacuti called on the gods to help him more than sending messages of support. This they did by transforming rocks laying about the place into Inca warriors. With this army, Pachacuti kicked the Chanca out of Cuzco. In thanks for this divine help the leader set up the stone warriors (*Pururaucas*) in sacred shrines around the city. ### Building An Empire Pachacuti was the first Inca ruler to have ambitions beyond Cuzco, and he conquered territories in the Cuzco (Huantanay) Valley and beyond, thus beginning the Inca empire which would grow and last until the Spanish [conquest](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) from 1532 CE. First, all speakers of the Inca language, Quechua, were given citizenship, a privileged status they would enjoy over all conquered peoples and which gave them the right to hold all important government and administrative offices. Moving south-east Pachacuti then conquered the basin of [Lake Titicaca](https://www.worldhistory.org/Lake_Titicaca/), including the cultures of the Colla and Lupaqa. Pachacuti then retired to Cuzco while his brothers and son, Tupac Inca Yupanqui (with whom he may have co-ruled), were given the task of continuing the conquest of the Andes, perhaps making their first incursions south into Ecuador and the [Chimu civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Chimu_Civilization/). Concentrating on government Pachacuti is credited with introducing the various apparatus of state which would ensure the Incas could continue their regional domination long-term. ### Government & Cuzco The Inca ruler (*Sapa*) introduced systems of tribute and taxation which were paid by conquered peoples either in the form of goods or labour. These made the Incas unpopular but they were used productively to create an extensive road network linking towns and sacred sites. A system of storage houses (*qollqa*) were also built and dotted around the empire to ensure a plentiful food supply even in times of low agricultural yield. In an effort to simplify royal succession, Pachacuti instigated the system of a ruler nominating his principal wife from whom heirs to the throne would be drawn. Pachacuti had historians record the important episodes of Inca history on painted tablets, which were then stored for posterity in a building at the capital where no one without authorization might enter. Finally, he fixed the calendar of market days and public holidays. [ ![Sacsayhuaman Fortifications](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/3544.jpg?v=1777136416) Sacsayhuaman Fortifications David Stanley (CC BY) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3544/sacsayhuaman-fortifications/ "Sacsayhuaman Fortifications")With his conquests and income made more secure, Pachacuti, perhaps following an inspirational visit to monumental [Tiwanaku](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tiwanaku/), then set about aggrandising his capital and replacing its many earthen structures with impressively crafted stonework. He drained the northern area of Cuzco and built there a new ceremonial centre and built himself a [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/) known as Kunturkancha. He also rebuilt the [Temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of Inti in the [Coricancha](https://www.worldhistory.org/Coricancha/) complex and started construction of the fortress-like [Sacsayhuaman](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sacsayhuaman/) which would protect the northern approach to Cuzco. Pachacuti built city-temple-fortress sites at other strategically important locations such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo at either end of the Urubamba Valley and many way-stations in the outposts of the empire such as Tambo Colorado on the coast. ### Machu Picchu Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui probably founded Machu Picchu (meaning 'old hill') c. 1450 CE. The purpose of the site is not agreed upon by scholars and may have been a fortress, imperial retreat, a symbol of Inca power for the benefit of conquered locals, or a ceremonial precinct. Perhaps the most likely role was the latter as most of the [architecture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/architecture/) was designed for religious purposes, and the site's fortifications may well have been put in place to ensure only a select few could enter this sacred site. In further support of this interpretation, a road was discovered which linked the site to several residential settlements dotted along the valley. The town had capacity for around 1,000 residents at its peak and ranked amongst the most sacred of all sites for the Inca. On the ruler's [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) the ownership of the site passed to Pachacuti's family successors. The site was abandoned by the Inca shortly before [Pizarro](https://www.worldhistory.org/Francisco_Pizarro/) and the Spanish conquistadors arrived in South America, who never stumbled across it. [ ![Machu Picchu, Peru](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/3470.jpg?v=1728065654) Machu Picchu, Peru Richard Twigg (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3470/machu-picchu-peru/ "Machu Picchu, Peru")### Death & [Burial](https://www.worldhistory.org/burial/) The Inca ruler died in 1471 CE and, according to his wishes, the Incas mourned for one whole year. They then held a month-long celebration of their great leader during which his personal items were paraded around the corners of the empire, a mock [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) was staged at Cuzco, and 2,000 llamas were sacrificed. A thousand more llamas were sacrificed around the empire and, so too, children were sacrificed in all the places that the ruler had visited in his lifetime. Pachacuti was mummified and may have been buried in a shrine known as Patallacta at Kenko (Q'enqo') on the heights above Cuzco. Even after death, the ruler continued to be venerated and his mummy (*mallki*), along with other past rulers, was regularly given outings into the outside world where it was ritually fed and even, on occasion, 'consulted' in times of political strife. In addition, the Inca's hair and fingernails were incorporated into a sacred statue of him, and Pachacuti's large stone hunting lodge at Tambo Machay, just above Cuzco, was made into a sacred site or *huaca*. In the official Inca state archives, such were his stature and achievements, that almost all significant developments in statecraft and empire were credited to Pachacuti. [ ![Map of the Inca Empire - Expansion and Roads](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/14113.png?v=1777683245-1760504445) Map of the Inca Empire - Expansion and Roads Simeon Netchev (CC BY-NC-ND) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14113/map-of-the-inca-empire---expansion-and-roads/ "Map of the Inca Empire - Expansion and Roads")Tupac Inca Yupanqui took over as *Sapa Inca* and continued his father's imperial plans, eventually doubling the size of the empire. In 1559 CE the Spanish discovered Pachacuti's mummy, which had been secretly hidden by the Incas following the conquest. It was sent to Lima by Juan Polo de Ondegardo but was lost in transit or perhaps simply destroyed like so many other symbols of Inca [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/). #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Alden Mason, J. *Ancient Civilizations of Peru.* Viking Penguin, 1975.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B003F9528I/) - [Baudin, L. *Daily Life of the Incas.* Dover Publications, 2011.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0486428001/) - [D'Altroy, T.N. *The Incas.* Wiley-Blackwell, 2014.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1444331159/) - [Jones, D.M. *Mythology of the Incas.* Southwater, 2007.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1844763382/) - [Moseley, M.E. *The Incas and Their Ancestors.* Thames & Hudson, 2001.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500282773/) - [Stone, R.R. *Art of the Andesín to Inca.* Thames & Hudson, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500204152/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **c. 1425 CE - 1532 CE**: The [Inca](https://www.worldhistory.org/Inca_Civilization/) [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) flourishes in South America. - **1438 CE**: [Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pachacuti_Inca_Yupanqui/) defeats the Chancas to control the [Cuzco](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cuzco/) Valley and further expand the [Inca](https://www.worldhistory.org/Inca_Civilization/) [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/). - **1438 CE**: Pachacunti [Inca](https://www.worldhistory.org/Inca_Civilization/) Yupanqui begins a rebuilding programme in the Inca capital of [Cuzco](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cuzco/). - **1438 CE - 1471 CE**: [Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pachacuti_Inca_Yupanqui/) reigns as the leader of the [Inca](https://www.worldhistory.org/Inca_Civilization/) [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/). - **c. 1450 CE**: [Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pachacuti_Inca_Yupanqui/) founds [Machu Picchu](https://www.worldhistory.org/Machu_Picchu/) in the High Andes. - **c. 1470 CE**: The [Incas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Inca_Civilization/) [conquer](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) the [Chimu civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Chimu_Civilization/) based at [Chan Chan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Chan_Chan/). ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2016, July 18). Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui: Founder of the Inca Empire. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Pachacuti\_Inca\_Yupanqui/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pachacuti_Inca_Yupanqui/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui: Founder of the Inca Empire." *World History Encyclopedia*, July 18, 2016. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Pachacuti\_Inca\_Yupanqui/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pachacuti_Inca_Yupanqui/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui: Founder of the Inca Empire." *World History Encyclopedia*, 18 Jul 2016, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Pachacuti\_Inca\_Yupanqui/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pachacuti_Inca_Yupanqui/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 18 July 2016. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.