Huayna Capac

Monarch of the Inca Empire at its zenith; he died of smallpox brought from abroad, and his sons fought a civil war after his death.

Life

Northern frontier of the empire

Huayna Capac succeeded to the throne c. 1493 and long resided around Quito in the north of the empire, extending its territory to the borders of present-day Ecuador and southern Colombia.

Zenith

During his reign the Inca Empire's population reached over ten million, and roads, terraces and storehouses spread throughout the Andes.

Death from smallpox

C. 1527, smallpox, brought by Europeans, spread to South America along sea routes ahead of the conquistadors. Huayna Capac and his designated heir both died of illness one after the other, and his two sons Huáscar and Atahualpa immediately went to civil war over the throne, weakening the empire.

Legacy

The reign of Huayna Capac was the height of the Inca Empire, yet his sudden death directly led to the empire's split on the eve of the Spaniards' arrival.

Did you know? When he died the Spaniards had not yet set foot in Peru; smallpox arrived one step ahead of the conquistadors.

Key dates

• 1493Accession (approx.)
• 1500Campaigned north around Quito (approx.)
• 1527Died of smallpox (approx.)