WHO WAS THE INCA PACHACUTEC ?

 

THE INCA PACHACUTEC (1418 - 1471) 

Pachacutec (1418 -1471), also called "Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui" was the ninth Inca ruler who exchange the small regional state for a vast an prosperous empire, which included part of the current territories of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina and Chile. His name means "World Transformer". According to the English historian Clement Markham, he was the greatest man of the aboriginal race than America has ever produced" 

The Inca Pachachutec 9th ruler of the Inca Empire during the period 1418 - 1471

Monument to Pachacutec in Cusco, Peru 

The Incas would not have achieved their great conquests and architectural monument without the existence of their emperor Pachacutec. During the fifteenth century, this Inca ruler managed to defeat his Chanca enemies. 

Then he expanded the borders of his kingdom transforming it into the largest empire in South America. Under his power, he reformed the state, built roads, cities, temples and monuments as incredible as Machu Picchu. 

All the chroniclers agree that he was the greatest emperor that existed in the Inca Empire.

The Inca Pachacutec led the expansionist process through conquest and alliance with the subjugates peoples. Then the empire grew so quickly that it had to create the new "Tahuantinsuyo" (The Inca empire divided into 4 regions) to better manage the new limits of its territory. 

According to research carried out with carbon 14, the citadel of Machupicchu was built in 1450 when the empire of the famous Inca Pachacutec ruled. For its edification he brought groups of thousands of men belonging to the recently conquered people from distant lands. 

It is believed that the construction of Machupicchu had several purposes. The first is that it served as the provisional residence of the Inca Pachacutec and his family. It is also believed that it served as a lookout post over the eastern kingdoms. Finally, it hat the purpose of a temple and a place of residence for approximately a thousand people. 

According to some chroniclers the real name of Machu Picchu was "Patallaqta", the place that Pachacutec would have chosen to be buried. Some researchers suggest that the mummy of the Inca is found there. Others believe that is located in the San Blas neighborhood in the city of Cusco. Some even point out that they are buried under the San Andrés hospital in Lima. The truth is that no one has found these remains. 

Other works that are attributed to the Inca Pachacutec are: 

• Reconstruction of the Koricancha Temple in the City of Cusco. 
• Reconstruction of the city of Cusco, with squares, neighborhoods and palaces. 
• Reconstruction of the Koricancha fortress also known as the Temple of the Sun. 
• Construction of the citadel of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. 
• Construction of hundreds of kilometers of the "Qhapac Ñan" road network. 
• Establishment of the Wawa Inti Raymi Festival.
• Manpower obligation for the benefit of the Inca state. 

Citadel of Machu Picchu built during the government of the Inca Pachacutec 

Edifications in Ollantaytambo built during the government of the Inca Pachacutec

The Koricancha or Temple of the Sun also built during the government of the Inca Pachacutec  

Pachacutec died naturally in approximately 1471. When his death occurred, the Inca Empire was undergoing a great organization and expansion of its territory. His successor was his son Túpac Yupanqui who already assumed a leading role conquering new territories for his father. 

After his death, Pachacutec (as was the tradition) was mummified and received as sumptuous homage in the Aucaypata square (current Cusco Plaza de Armas), dressed in gold, silver as well as feather decorations and more. 

His mummy was transferred to the temple of Tococache (current church of San Blas in Cusco), a building ordered to be built by Pachacutec himself to be the temple of the god of lightning (also know as Illapa).

History praises Pachacutec as one of the great governors of the Pre-Columbian era. According to the Peruvian historian María Rostworowski, with the rules imposed during Pachacutec's government he provided geographical and idiomatic unity; initiating the uniformity that later allowed the formation of the current Peru.