Born: Unknown, Incan Empire (Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia)
Died: 1490s
Country most active: Incan Empire (Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia)
Also known as: Mama Uqllu iskay ñiqin
Mama Ocllo was a princess and queen consort (Coya), of the Inca Empire, who married her younger brother – the Sapa Inca Topa Inca Yupanqui (r. 1471–1493) – according to custom and became his legitimate spouse and queen. She was the mother of Huayna Capac and Coya Cusirimay.
Mama Ocllo is described as having a dominant character, “desirous for wealth” and cunningly strategic, having wielded great influence over the affairs of state. The queen assisted her spouse in conquering a city in Chimor (possibly tumbez) ruled by a female Capallana. When the Capallana refused the Inca’s request to submit, Mama Ocllo asked her husband to let her intercede, promising to give him the city without the loss of a single warrior. She sent a message to the female ruler, saying that her courage had saved her city and that the Inca army would let it stand. She only asked that the Inca messenger would be celebrated with a feast in honor of the sea gods, which naturally would take place on boats. While the whole city was occupied afloat at sea to celebrate, the Inca army swarmedin, taking the city. The Capallana herself became the Mama Ocllo’s personal captive in recognition of the role she had played.
When her husband died in 1493, her son and heir, Huayna Capac, was still a minor. Ciqui Ollco, the favorite concubine of the dead king, tried to place her own young son Capac Huari on the throne by spreading the rumor, with the help of a female relative, that the late rule had willed the throne to Capac Huari. Mama Ocllo prevented this attempted coup by spreading her own rumor that Ciqui Ollco was a witch. mama ollco had Ciqui Ollco and her female relative arrested (and likely executed), exiled Capac Huari to Chincheru, and had her own son installed as the next ruler. Huayna Capac reportedly never forgot that he owed his throne to his mother, and ordered that her villa at Picchu be made a holy huaca in remembrance.Mama Ocllo reportedly died shortly after having secured the throne for her son. The regency during her son’s minority was handled by the cousin of her late spouse.