Colla-Inca war

Colla-Inca War
Part of the Inca expansion

The imperial army marching during the conquests of the Inca empire
Date1445-1450
Location
Altiplano
Result

Inca victory

  • End of the Colla Kingdom
  • Inca dominion is established in the Andean Plateau
Belligerents

Inca Empire

  • Inca Army

Colla Kingdom

Commanders and leaders
Pachacuti Chuchi Capac
Units involved
12,000 fighters 14,000 fighters
Casualties and losses
500 dead 6,000 dead

The Colla-Inca War was a military conflict fought between the Inca Empire and the Colla Kingdom between 1445 and 1450.[1] It is one of the first wars of conquest led by Pachacuti.

It established Inca dominance in the Andean Altiplano, and made the Inca an important entity in the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes.[2][3]

Background

The Inca state had acquired geo-political importance in the Andes following their victory over the Chanka. However the Inca needed to conquer the Colla Kingdom, before they could continue north.[4]

The war

Sources disagree on the exact causes of the war.[5]

Map of the Aymara kingdoms during the war.

Around 1445, the Inca armies marched into Colla territory. The Colla chief waited for the Inca forces at the town of Ayaviri. A battle ensued, which the Inca won. The colla chief, Chuchic Capac, was captured, and his territories were annexed into the Inca Empire.[6][7]

Following the battle, Pachacuti traveled to the Colla capital, Hatuncolla.[8] There he organized the Inca administration, and ordered the construction of forts. Following the Inca invasion, the neighboring Lupaca chiefdom also submitted. During the campaign, Pachacuti visited the ruins of Tiahuanaco.[9]

Consequences

The war established Inca dominance in the region, and set the groundwork for further conquests to the south.[10]

References

  1. ^ Favre, Henri. Les Incas. Presses Universitaires de France. p. 20.
  2. ^ Rostworowski, María. History of the Inca Realm. Translated by B. Iceland, Harry. Cambridge University Press.
  3. ^ Noon, Gemma (21 April 2013). "Top 5 Civilizations Conquered by the Inca Empire". The Collector.
  4. ^ Rostworowski, María (2001). Pachacútec Inca Yupanqui. Lima: Instituto de Estudios Peruanos. p. 156.
  5. ^ Cobo, Bernabé. Historia del Nuevo Mundo (in Spanish).
  6. ^ de Gamboa, Pedro Sarmiento. The History of the Incas. Translated by Bauer, Brian; Smith, Vania. University of Texas Press. p. 238.
  7. ^ Rostworowski, María (2001). Pachacútec Inca Yupanqui. Lima: Instituto de Estudios Peruanos. p. 157.
  8. ^ Querejazu Lewis, Roy (1998). Incallajta y la conquista incaica del Collasuyu. Los Amigos del Libro. p. 51.
  9. ^ Rostworowski, María (2001). Pachacútec Inca Yupanqui. Lima: Instituto de Estudios Peruanos. pp. 158–159.
  10. ^ Peters, Ulrike. Die Inka. marixwissen. pp. 101–102.