In the Inca Empire, the word “Inca” meant “King,” and generally only referred to one man, the ruler of the Empire. Atahualpa was one of many sons of Inca Huayna Capac, an efficient and ambitious ruler. The Incas could only marry their sisters: no one else was deemed noble enough. They had many concubines, however, and their offspring (Atahualpa included) were considered eligible for rule. Rulership of the Inca did not necessarily pass to the eldest son first, as was the European tradition: any one of Huayna Capac’s sons would be acceptable. Often, civil wars broke out between brothers for succession.