Tribes of Peru
Home

Acos – lineage that governed, built, and managed allbridges. Chaca suioioc acos inger guamnochaca – title given to a governor of 1000 bridges. Von Hagen

Alcavizas - original people of Cuzco, called forth by Viracocha. Defeated by Inca Roca at the age of 2. Steele

Antas – big eared, were re-settled to Vilcashuaman. Antis, Chunchos, Piros, and Campas tribes supported the neo-Inca state.Von Hagen

Araucanians – uncivilized warriors in N Chile, fanatical about their freedom. Topa Yupanqui took their best land and stopped at the Maule R. Hyams

Atacameno – at Salar de Atacama, high desert with large salt lake. Speak Kunsa – quite different from Quechua and Aymara. Herds, irrigation from glaciers. Traded with the coast with goods from mountains. Von Hagen

Ayanarcas - along with the Chancas, Soras, and Yanyos fought with Huascar against Atauallpa. Hyams

Ayar - name of founding Inca ancestors. Manco Capac and family traveled to Cuzco. Many were transformed into huancas on their way to Cuzco. Wore fine clothes of wool woven with gold. Mamas wore rich cloaks with chumbis - sash and topos - large pins. Steele

Ayavari - women wear "large flat hats trimmed with beautiful upending brocade". Near Titicaca, NW. Von Hagen

Campas - Antis, Chunchos, Piros, and Campas tribes supported the neo-Inca state. Von Hagen

Canas - caps, “larger and greater in width,” road woolen hats, And ponchos. Village of Tinta and Temple of Viracocha. Von Hagen. Conquered by the third Inca, Lloqye Yupanqui. Hyams.

Canches - “wide filets of red or black passing over forehead.” Sicvani. Von Hagen

Cancharis - a Cancharis prisoner of Toledo's march to capture Tupac Amaru, tried to escape and warn Tupac. The prisoner was captured and hung at Ututo. Lee

Caņaris - “crowns of thick lathes, like those used for Sieve” province in Ecuador . Crowns of interwoven thick latches. Their hair was long and coiled around their head in a knotted crown and wore a round wooden ring. Controlled the area from Chimborazo to Loja. Large powerful tribe. Allied with many other groups including Jivaros. Excellent metalworkers of gold and copper. Had currency in salt and copper. In 1530 they offered to help Huascar and they capture Atahuallpa. Atahualla escaped and then ordered their slaughter. Thus they became enemies of A and later the Spanish’s most loyal allies. Von Hagen. From Ecuador, were resettled to Yucay Valley. Steele.

Cara – see Cayambi

Cario – Paraguay.Incas conquering Vilcabamba and Antisuyu areas forced tribes farther E into other tribal areas, all the way out to Paraguay. Juan Diaz de Solis replaced Amerigo Vespucci on his death. He sailed up the La Plata R hoping to get to the Pacific. He met the Cario tribe in 1515, who described the Incas as living where the sun set and had unlimited gold and silver. See Guarani. Von Hagen

Cavinas – wore large ear plugs, ponchos. Lived in Urcos area. Von Hagen

Cayambi – N Ecuador, part of the Cara people. Also called Caraques. Almost succeeded in maintaining liberty. Provided the most resistance in Inca history. Fought in open and fortresses. N tribes rebelled because cannibalism was outlawed. They rose up on a certain day and slaughtered all cucuricucs and garrisons – and ate.  Colla Topa – relative of Huayna Capac lead an elite force in first campaign, Cayambi held their ground. Second campaign lasted years and cost the Sapa Inca’s brother. H Capac was even knocked to the ground. The last time, the Incas faked a retreat, the Cayambi chased, a secret Inca rear group occupied the stronghold and trapped the Cayambi between the 2 forces. 20,000 died. Uncommon. Hyams. Lived in circular, earthwalled homes. Chiefs were buried in pits. They worshipped the sky and mtn peaks, Cayambe and Cotopaxi. Upon conquering, Huayna Capac ordered that all chiefs be beheaded at the edge of a lake – Yahuarcocha, bloody lake. Von Hagen

Chancas - Home is at Andahuaylas. Had attacked Cuzco under Hanco-Huallu with 8000 warriors. They were defeated on the Plain of Blood. They fled into the forests of Moyobamba (area of Chachapoyas) of the upper Maranon. For allowing their escape the Inca general, Capac Yupanqui was executed. Along with the Soras, Ayanarcas, and Yanyos fought with Huascar against Atauallpa. Hyams. Believed that they descended from the puma. On feast days the chief would dance in a puma skin. 1400 moved S to Abancay and Curahuasi to control the bridges. 1437 besieged Cuzco, Inca Viracocha fled and Pachacutic raised up and defeated them. Von Hagen Controlled the area of Andahuaylas to Huancavelica and Ayacucho. A confederac of semi-independant groups. Steele

Chancay – Central coast in Chancay valley. A Von Hagen photo

Charcas - sturdy people in territory given to Almagro. Gonzalo and Hernando forced them into obedience. Maybe near Porco & Potosi. Prescott

Chichas - supplied incense for religion. Von Hagen. In Chincha valley. Organized by specialties. Capital – La Centinela. Had 3 great roads, mounds painted white with friezes. A Von Hagen

Chinchas - on coast S of Lima, grew cotton, roads with 12 ft high walls, fomidable warriors, ventured into the mountains to conquer and collect spoils. Futally resisted the Incas. von Hagen

Chinchay - around lake Chinchaycocha (Junin), 2nd largest lake in S America, fought against the Incas, but became loyal vassals upon defeat. Von Hagen

Chiriguana – from Paraguay, raided the Inca frontier in 1523 with the help of Spaniard, Alejo Garcia. A report of this was sent back to Huayna Capac. The Spanaird was later killed by the Chiriguana.

Chumpi-vilcas - dancers (not from Cuntisuyu). Von Hagen

Chuncos - Antis, Chunchos, Piros, and Campas tribes supported the neo-Inca state. Von Hagen. Defeated by Inca Roca. Cannibals. Steele

Chuquisaca – wore beautiful handwoven clothes. Von Hagen photo

Chuquimanco – on S coast in valley of Lunahuana. Incas fought long time. Hemming

Collas – or Qollas, Collao. L Titicaca. Often grouped with Lupaca. Large herds of llamas and alpacas. Hilltop fortresses for refuge, buried dead in chullpas. A Von Hagen. Caps shaped like plump box of wool, Titicaca. Von Hagen. Conquered by the third Inca, Lloqye Yupanqui. Revolted with the Lupaca, Pucasa, and Omasuy when false news of the death of Topa Yupanqui reached them. Topa’s armies quickly left the jungles and climbed t0 12,000 ft and crushed the rebels. Hyams. Pachacuti used them to build Ollantaytambo. Chuchi Capa was the great chief. Was killed when Incas invaded their area. His sons were forced as labor to build Ollantaytambo. When the Inca withdrew from Ollantay, the son fled with his people back to their home. Along the way, they raised up neighboring tribes in revolt. Pachacuti stopped the revolt with difficult fighting and much bloodshed. Hemming

Conchucos - 1538, Inca general, Illa Tupac led a revolt. They marched on Trujillo, killing any Spaniard. Illa controlled the Huanuco area. Hemming

Guarani – Paraguay. Incas conquering Vilcabamba and Antisuyu areas forced tribes farther E into other tribal areas, all the way out to Paraguay . Garcia Alejo, Portugese, joined the Guarani and raided several Inca outposts. Von Hagen. Tribe of E Bolivia. Fought by the Incas at about 1520s, near the time of Spanish arrival. Hemming.

Hualla - coca producing locals at Huanaypata of Cuzco. Mama Huaco led the battle to win the field. Ripped out lungs and wombs of defeated. Then they planted maize. Steele

Huancas – Wankas. “Field Guardians”. short ropes that hung down to chin, hair plaited. Jauja, central Peru. Von Hagen. Mantaro basin, defensive walls. A Von Hagen. People of Huancayo are called Wanka. R Roscoe.

Huancane - tribe on north shore of L Titicaca. Hemming

Huari - see Wari.

Ichma – Ychma, Ichimay. Brought together Lurin and Rimac valleys. Religious based and control Pachamac adobe pyramids with ramps. 1200 – 1400. A Von Hagen

Jivaros – of the upper Amazon, practiced head shrinking. Traded and supported Canari.

Kunsa – language spoken by Atacamenos of the high deseret of Atacemena. Quite different from Quechua and Ayamara. Von Hagen

Lares – original inhabitants of Ollantaytambo, 1400. 1440 destroyed by raiding Incas. Von Hagen

Lupaca – and Qolla. L Titicaca. Large herds of llamas and alpacas. Hilltop fortresses for refuge, buried dead in chullpas. A Von Hagen. Revolted with the Collas, Pucasa, and Omasuy when false news of the death of Topa Yupanqui reached them. Topa’s armies quickly left the jungles and climbed t0 12,000 ft and crushed the rebels. Hyams

Qolla – see Collas.

Omasuyu – Aymaran. Revolted with the Collas, Lupaca, and Pucasa when false news of the death of Topa Yupanqui reached them. Topa’s armies quickly left the jungles and climbed t0 12,000 ft and crushed the rebels. Hyams

Palta – wore their hair long, the Peruvian word for avocado, which grew to the size of melons here. They elongated their children’s skulls. Von Hagen

Pasto – trive in extreme N. Rebelled against Huayna Capac strongly, but he put it down with ferocity. Hyams

Picunches – north people.  Of chile, Coquimbo, Choapa R. Gonzalo Calvo was ordered to have his ears cut off by Pizzaro. He desereted and traveled alone 2000mi to Chile and set up life among the Picunches in valley of Aconcagua. Almagro ran into him during march to Chile.

Piros - Antis, Chunchos, Piros, and Campas tribes supported the neo-Inca state. Von Hagen

Pucasa – Aymaran. Revolted with the Collas, Lupaca, and Omasuy when false news of the death of Topa Yupanqui reached them. Topa’s armies quickly left the jungles and climbed t0 12,000 ft and crushed the rebels. Hyams

Puruha – Ecuador. Capital at Riobamba (Lirepampa). Densely populated, wore sleeveless woolen ponchos, wore their hair long, piled up in a circle around the head, spoke Quechua and their own language. Von Hagen

Purumacha – S of Maule R in Chile. Fierce, stopped Inca advancement. Von Hagen

Runcanas - sturdy people who lived W of Cuzco. They carried the Inca’s litter, wore blue. Changed in relays of 8. Lived in the area W of Vilcashuaman. Von Hagen

Sauseray - led by a strong chief Copalimayta, he was defeated and fled. Manco Capc and Mama Huaco settled at Cuzco and took control of fields, houses, and people.

Sicuani - "woolen wimples which encase the head ununlike and fell across the shoulders." Von Hagen

Soras – along with the Chancas, Ayanarcas, and Yanyos fought with Huascar against Atauallpa. Hyams Lived in the area W of Vilcashuaman. Von Hagen

Tampu - one of 4 original tribes that founded Cuzco from the Ayar brothers. Hemming

Tanquiha – local tribe of Vilcashuaman. Von Hagen

Wanka – see Huanca

Wari - ancestors were 8 bearded giants. Steele. Based near Ayacucho.

Yanyos - along with the Chancas, Ayanarcas, and Soras fought with Huascar against Atauallpa. Hyams

Ychma – see Ichma

Yuncas - “muffled like gypsies” on the coast. Von Hagen

Yachas - people of Huanuco, before the Incas conquered & resettled. Von Hagen


Bibliography
More information on the bibliography is available on the previous page.

Prescott, William. The History of the Conquest of Peru. He created the first compresive history of the fall of the Incas.

Von Hagen, Victor. Highway of the Sun. Duell, Sloan and Pierce, NewYork: 1955.

Von Hagen, Victor. Realm of the Incas. New American Library, New York: 1957.