tribal confederation · South America

Huanca

1000 CE – 1460 CE (approx.) · capital Hatun Xauxa

A confederation of highland peoples in Peru's Mantaro valley who fought among themselves until conquered by the Incas, and later allied with the Spanish.

Origins

After the Wari Empire collapsed, the Mantaro valley in central Peru was divided among the Huanca, or Wanka, and related groups such as the Xauxa. From about 1000 they formed communities of chiefdoms, and in the 14th century fortified hilltop towns such as Tunanmarca and Hatunmarca grew to house thousands.

Rule and society

The Huanca were divided into rival groups led by local war leaders called sinchis, and their hilltop towns reflect frequent warfare. They farmed potatoes and other tubers, grew maize in lower valleys and herded llamas. The valley was one of the most productive in the central Andes, and Hatun Xauxa later became a major Inca centre.

Decline and legacy

The Incas conquered the Huanca around 1460, resettling them in valley-floor villages. In 1533 Huanca lords allied with Francisco Pizarro and supplied his troops; they later petitioned the Spanish crown for rewards. Jauja was briefly the Spanish capital in 1534.

Connections (1)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Huanca. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/huanca
MLA
“Huanca.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/huanca. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Huanca.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/huanca.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Huanca’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/huanca (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻