Coya Asarpay or Azarpay (died 1533), was a princess and queen consort of the Inca Empire by marriage to her brother, the Sapa IncaAtahualpa (r 1532-1533).[1][2]
Asarpay was the daughter of the Inca Huayna Capac.[3][4] She married her brother, the succeeding Inca, in accordance with ancient custom. She was the "First Princess of the Empire", and her sisters included Kispe Sisa, Kura Okllu, Marca Chimbo, Pachacuti Yamqui, Miro, Kusi Warkay, Francisca Coya[5][6] and others.[7]:112[8]: 112, 118
Her husband was executed in 1533 by the Spaniards, who accused him of incest and idolatry, charges which would apply also to her.
At one point, according to Pedro Pizarro, the Spanish treasurer, Navarro, asked Fernando Pizarro for permission to Azarpay and force her to be his wife. Hearing this, Azarpay escaped to Carajima. Later, she was recaptured, and brought to the house of Fernando Pizarro in Lima.[9] Pedro Pizarro states that shortly thereafter Incas besieged the city, and Fernando Pizarro believed that they had been told to do so by Azarpay, and that killing her would make it more likely they would lift the siege.[10][11]