You may have heard of the Inca emperor Huayna Capac but probably not Contarhuacho (or Contarguacho), one of his many secondary wives. Born in Tocash in the province of Huaylas, Peru, in about 1500, Contarhuacho was a curaca or female cacique of great importance in her own right who played a significant role both before and after the Spanish Conquest.
This short biography is a taster for a book I am planning entitled, ‘Biographies of Inca Women’. I would love to receive feedback on whether a book of that sort would be of interest to you and if so, which Inca women you would like me to include.