'Sinchi Roca' (a.k.a. Cinchi Roca;
Quechua ''Sinchi Roq'a Inka'' "valorous generous Inca") was the second
Sapa Inca of the ''Kingdom of
Cuzco'' (beginning around 1230 CE, though as early as 1105 CE according to some) and a member of the
Húrin dynasty. He was the son and successor of
Manco Capac and the father of
Lloque Yupanqui.
The Kingdom of Cuzco would later become
Tahuantinsuyu (or the Inca empire) under the rule of
Pachacuti. In one of the
Inca foundation myths, Sinchi Roca led his family to the valley of Cuzco.
The chronicler Pedro Cieza de León states that Sinchi Roca built terraces and imported enormous quantities of soil in order to improve the fertility of the valley.
Sinchi is known for the story of Teuotihi. Teuotihi was an Inca diplomat sent to a neighboring kingdom to deliver a message. However, he was promptly killed on arrival and sent back to Sinchi Roca, headless. This prompted a war and a decisive
Inca victory at the
Battle of Mauedipi. While in Inca legend this led to the dominance of
Cuzco over the surrounding valleys, archaeological evidence and the testimony of other groups points to the continued insignificance of the Inca under his rule.
''Sinchi'' came to be used as the title for a mayor or local ruler, while ''
Capac'', one of his father's names, became the title for a warlord.