Refugio de Santiago a Refugio de Santiago - b
Refugio de Santiago - c

Inkawasi - A Camp city

The Inka troops burst in through the river basin of the Cañete river with the firm intention to conquer the Huarco nation. They sent emissaries to them with gifts and also with threats, but the Huarcos decided to fight for their freedom and expelled to the cuzqueños, they cultivated its fields and that year they had an economic bonanza and many celebrations.

The Huarco triumph created a bad example for the other nations subjugated by the Inkas, and that summer Tupac Yupanqui planed a definitive expedition to the Huarco. In fact, the last corner of the coast to be conquered by the empire of the Tahuantinsuyo was the valley of the river cañete.

 Refuge of Santiago - Lunahuana - Photo Ruins of Inkawasi In order to win over the Huarcos, Pachacutec and his son Tupac Yupanqui established a new military strategy: Systematically to debilitate the enemy, to breathe down his neck, to harass him to the end. The military objective: The taking of the water distribution channels.

The geography of the river basin of the Cañete river is clear, a desert costeño, territory of the Huarco nation, 20 km wide from the sea to where it passes the Andean mountain range. Then there is the intermediate part of a beautiful valley, deep and boxed for 40 km from Ungara to Zúñiga, the high part of the river basin belonged to the Yauyos nation.

The strength of Ungara protects the water taking of the territories of culture of the Huarcos, that had the capital the Blue Hill port. Inkas settled down in the part of the river basin to 13 kilometers of Ungara, in a new city.

 Refuge of Santiago - Lunahuana - Photo Ruins of Inkawasi Inkawasi: A camping city, strategically located where there are ways to the 4 cardinal points, with natural defenses and territories of culture. In the military control of Inkawasi it was administered efficiently for four years, during the time that the Huarco were engaged in battles of the conquest, the logistics of the greater military campaign of the empire. Temples, seats were constructed, calls to account for the high class, administrative offices, hospitals, warehouses, kitchens, jails, centers of training, places of relaxation and everything that it was possible to need. The majority of the troops resided in tents in hanan Incawasi, to the other side of the river. The disposition of the city was like in all the Inkas sites; the vision de la Cruz to the south, that divides in four; to the center ushnu, the east the ceremonial seat, to the west the extreme priest.

Tupac Yupanqui said when leaving Cuzco: "Viviré in that new city (Inkawasi) until native Huarco is subjugated and my súbditos", and with twenty thousand soldiers launched the military campaign. The first forward post Inka is known as Strength and this six kilometers by river under Inkawasi and two kilometers beyond the military post called Wood, there was an area of no-man's land; it was a war of commandos, incursions, skirmishes; of strategies, of valentía and mainly of logistic.

 Refuge of Santiago - Lunahuana - Photo Ruins of Inkawasi The Huarcos after as much wearing down, tension and siege were overcome from the north, from the south and from the east. Many saved themselves in boats, those that remained were beheaded because the Inka considered that much damage had caused. The defenders of Ungara resisted until the last moment.

Once Huarco was conquered, Tupac Yupanqui returned to the city of Cuzco where he was received by Pachacutec, both armies were moderate, they vitorearon and they saluted until father and son embraced each other, and with the much rejoicing the celebrations and great sacrifices began. They were times of Inka splendor.

Paullo, 19 of February of 2005

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