Inca army

The Inca Army was a multi-ethnic army charged with defending the sovereignty of try.

As the Inca empire grew, the army of peasant warriors was replaced by an army with professional officers. Officers were chosen during the Warachikuy festival during which candidates had to undergo various tests of physical skill such as racing, marksmanship, simulated combat and battle drill. There was even a competition to see if they could stay awake for a long period, and in fact it is reported that some officers could remain awake for a whole week.

Inca battalions contained permanent staff (generals and officers) and non-permanent personnel composed of drafted hatun runas (common men) who would be serving their military mit'a public service (comparable to a mandatory military service). Once the mita was fulfilled, each hatun runa would return to their respective ayllu (community).

Each battalion was made up of a single ethnic group, the whole group being directed by a kuraka (warlord) who had the same ethnicity. In the event that a kuraka fell in battle a replacement was appointed from within the same ethnic group. In order to prevent rebellions and to promote performance in battle, each ethnic group was divided into two battalions, each one under the command of a general (and both under the command of the kuraka), who would compete against his counterpart in displaying bravery on the battlefield, thus increasing his chances of promotion. This concept of "duality" is widespread in the Andean world, and represents the two Inca dynasties: Hanan and Hurin.

Since the government of Tupac Yupanqui, an emperor, a specialized elite group of soldiers was appointed for the safekeeping of the Sapa Inca ("the one and only Inca") during parades, travel or campaigns. These bodyguards originated primarily in Cusco, even though with time outstanding soldiers from other ethnicities were accepted into the group. This imperial guard, all of them belonging to the nobility, reached a size of 10,000.

All members of the Inca army were between 25 and 50 years old. All of the empire's citizens had to perform either military or community service. One of every 50 men over 25 years old (legal age in the Inca Empire) would be chosen for military service. For noblemen, this was an honor and a duty, for common men, it was a means of social promotion. In accordance with the duality concept, one of every 50 young women were selected to serve in the Temple of the Virgins of the Sun.

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