HOME | DD

Description
Following the passing of PACHAKUTI ("he who changes the Earth", a prince of Qusqu / Cuzco who became the first ruler of the Tawantinsuyu - i.e. the Inca Empire, literally meaning "4 provinces" in Runa Simi / the Kichwa language - after asserting domination over an area much larger than the previous domain of the Inca people, a group of Kichwa / Quechuas from Cuzco, in the 15th century), in 1471, one of his sons, Tupaq Yupanqui (a.k.a Topa Inca Yupanqui), who has already been one of the leading Apu generals of the Inca army years before, succeeded him as Sapa Inca (the ruler of Tawantinsuyu).

Following his father's steps, through numerous victories in battle, Tupaq would expand the territory of the Tawantinsuyu to its height, reaching as far as what's nowadays southwestern Colombia, in the north, and into northern Chile and Argentina in the South, in the process, after intense military efforts, subduing other civilizations even older and more traditionally established than the Inca - such as the Chimú, in the northern coast, direct descendants of the ancient Mochica - while still fighting neighboring Kichwa groups opposed to Qusqu, such as the Chankas, whom his father fought before him. The southward expansion of the Tawantinsuyu, however, would be met with strong resistance in the the Maule River, (nowadays central Chile) part of the traditional territory of the Mapuche peoples - in particular, the Mapudungun-speaking "Picunche" ("northern people") people. The Inca forces, that far south, headed by general Sinchi Ruqa, after securing traditional territories of independent Diaguita peoples (in Central Chile and northwestern Argentina) and setting Pukaras (military forts), sent their Chaski (messengers) to cross the river and ask the locals to submit to their rule, or resort to arms. The Picunche refused, and called on a coalition consisting of the Antalli, Pincu and Cauqui peoples to help them repel the Inca forces. The Inca would call them Purum Awqa ("Savage Enemy" - later used as "Purumauca" by the Spanish), and it's said by later historians that, after three days of camping and fighting in the shores of the river, the Inca considered the effort to dominate the "Purum Awqa" fruitless, and decided to leave, focusing on fighting the Chimú empire much farther north instead.

The main surviving accounts of said battle are reported in the early colonial era by the Inca turned Spanish chronicler Garcilaso de la Vega, a great-grandson of Tupaq Inca Yupanqui, and while certain details remain a matter of debate among modern historians, the conflicts between the Tawantinsuyu and coalitions of different group of Mapuche / Mapudungun speaking peoples attest that the Mapuche, who exist up to this day, have been resisting incursions from different empires throughout history, and that was the first time the independent Mapuches faced a people with a form of state organization: an experience which would shape their own organization and identity for centuries to come, including today, as they face colonial policies and fight for land rights in their traditional area, the Wallmapu, currently occupied by the states of Chile and Argentina.

Mixed media illustration by Zamahel, 2023

Animated version minted and sold in the Tezos blockchain

Description
Following the passing of PACHAKUTI ("he who changes the Earth", a prince of Qusqu / Cuzco who became the first ruler of the Tawantinsuyu - i.e. the Inca Empire, literally meaning "4 provinces" in Runa Simi / the Kichwa language - after asserting domination over an area much larger than the previous domain of the Inca people, a group of Kichwa / Quechuas from Cuzco, in the 15th century), in 1471, one of his sons, Tupaq Yupanqui (a.k.a Topa Inca Yupanqui), who has already been one of the leading Apu generals of the Inca army years before, succeeded him as Sapa Inca (the ruler of Tawantinsuyu).

Following his father's steps, through numerous victories in battle, Tupaq would expand the territory of the Tawantinsuyu to its height, reaching as far as what's nowadays southwestern Colombia, in the north, and into northern Chile and Argentina in the South, in the process, after intense military efforts, subduing other civilizations even older and more traditionally established than the Inca - such as the Chimú, in the northern coast, direct descendants of the ancient Mochica - while still fighting neighboring Kichwa groups opposed to Qusqu, such as the Chankas, whom his father fought before him. The southward expansion of the Tawantinsuyu, however, would be met with strong resistance in the the Maule River, (nowadays central Chile) part of the traditional territory of the Mapuche peoples - in particular, the Mapudungun-speaking "Picunche" ("northern people") people. The Inca forces, that far south, headed by general Sinchi Ruqa, after securing traditional territories of independent Diaguita peoples (in Central Chile and northwestern Argentina) and setting Pukaras (military forts), sent their Chaski (messengers) to cross the river and ask the locals to submit to their rule, or resort to arms. The Picunche refused, and called on a coalition consisting of the Antalli, Pincu and Cauqui peoples to help them repel the Inca forces. The Inca would call them Purum Awqa ("Savage Enemy" - later used as "Purumauca" by the Spanish), and it's said by later historians that, after three days of camping and fighting in the shores of the river, the Inca considered the effort to dominate the "Purum Awqa" fruitless, and decided to leave, focusing on fighting the Chimú empire much farther north instead.

The main surviving accounts of said battle are reported in the early colonial era by the Inca turned Spanish chronicler Garcilaso de la Vega, a great-grandson of Tupaq Inca Yupanqui, and while certain details remain a matter of debate among modern historians, the conflicts between the Tawantinsuyu and coalitions of different group of Mapuche / Mapudungun speaking peoples attest that the Mapuche, who exist up to this day, have been resisting incursions from different empires throughout history, and that was the first time the independent Mapuches faced a people with a form of state organization: an experience which would shape their own organization and identity for centuries to come, including today, as they face colonial policies and fight for land rights in their traditional area, the Wallmapu, currently occupied by the states of Chile and Argentina.

Mixed media illustration by Zamahel, 2023

Animated version minted and sold in the Tezos blockchain