Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui or Pachacutec (in hispanicized spellings) or Pachakutiq Inka Yupanki (Quechua) was the ninth Sapa Inca (1438–1471/1472) of the Kingdom of Cusco which he transformed into the Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu). Most archaeologists now believe that the famous Inca site of Machu Picchu was built as an estate for Pachacuti.
In Quechua Pachakutiq means "he who shakes the earth", and Yupanki means "with honor". During his reign, Cusco grew from a hamlet into an empire that could compete with, and eventually overtake, the Chimú. He began an era of conquest that, within three generations, expanded the Inca dominion from the valley of Cusco to nearly the whole of western South America.
Biography
He was the ninth ruler of the Inca state who, from ruling a simple chiefdom came to rule a great empire, the Tawantinsuyu. Although he had not been designated as successor by his father Viracocha Inca, he led a military defense against the warlike army of Chanka while his father and his brother Urco Inca fled the manor. The victory over the Chankas made Inca Viracocha recognize him as his successor around 1438.
Podcasts:
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by Horrible Histories
Pachacuti
by: Horrible HistoriesI'm Pachacuti, the Incan lord
All other tribes dread it,
My name means 'he who shakes the earth'
Not that I'm big-headed
When it comes to claiming nearby lands
I was the type to risk it
But it's how I treat dead enemies
That really took the biscuit
I drink from their skull
(Do the Pachacuti! )
Pull out their teeth whole
(Do the Pachacuti! )
Turn teeth into charms
(Do the Pachacuti! )
Make flutes out of their arms
(Pachacuti! )
Once on a hillside, my troops hid
To cause a rife old strife
When they jumped out, it looked like
The ground had come to life
The rocks they are my warriors
I then used to boast
And that little lie helped us win wars
But violence helped the most
I drink from their skull
(Do the Pachacuti! )
Pull out their teeth whole
(Do the Pachacuti! )
Turn teeth into charms
(Do the Pachacuti! )
Make flutes out of their arms
(Pachacuti! )
If you were a rival chief
We'd kill you first and then
We'd stuff you like a scarecrow
But one for scaring men
Then we'd rest your bony fingers on
The stretched skin of your belly
And in the breeze, they'd tap that tum
Like a drummer, but more smelly!
Drink from their skull
(Do the Pachacuti! )
Pull out their teeth whole
(Do the Pachacuti! )
Use their skin as a drum
(Do the Pachacuti! )
I've never had so much fun!