Huayna Capac (1493 - 1527) was an Inca emperor. He was the successor to Tupac Inca Yupanqui. He was also the father to Huascar, Atahualpa, Tupac Huallpa, Manco Inca Yupanqui and Paullu Inca .

Huayna Capac extended Tahuantinsuyu, the Inca empire, during his reign. For many years he and his armies fought in the far north of the empire in what is now the country of Colombia. The capital city of Tahuantinsuyu was far to the south in Cuzco, and Huayna hoped to establish a northern stronghold in the city of Quito.

Around 1527, Huayna Capac was in present-day Colombia and he and his troops became plagued with illness and thousands died of what may have been smallpox. Both Huayna Capac and his heir Ninan Cuyochi died. Huascar was already working to overthrow the leadership of his brother Ninan when he learned of his death. Huayna Capac quickly secured power in Cusco, and had his brother Atahualpa arrested. But Atahualpa escaped with the help of a little girl and began securing support from Huayna Capac's best generals, who happened to be near Quito, the nearest major city. A civil war ensued with Atahualpa being victorious, but it was at this time that Spanish conquistadors began arriving in South America. The conquistadors used deceit to capture Atahualpa on his way back to Cusco, copying an earlier exploit in Mesoamerica. A series of missteps by Atahualpa's generals following his capture led to the quick downfall of the empire.

See also

• Inca Empire
• Sapa Inca