The Qulla nation
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The Pacase or Qulla people together with the Lupacas were invaded by the Incas to the head of Capac Yupanqui. The Canas ones, the Canchis, Qullas, Carangas, Charcas and others were conquered by this Inca in the year 1450. Mayta-Capac entered to the government of the Monarchy after his father's Lloque-Yupanqui death. Being of 51 year-old age, held the County of Tia-Huanaca, where he made build big urban constructions, he forced obedience the towns of the County of Coc-yaviri, of Cauquicura, of Mallama, Huarina, Cuchuna, Laricaja, Sancavan and the town of Collas, after having defeated in a bloody battle in the called spot Huaichu; this is the way he extend his Empire until Caracollo to theSouth, for the West Mayta-Capac conquered the Counties of Chumpivillca, Allca, Taurisma, Cota-huahu, Puma tampu y Parinacocha, and to the East until the beautiful plains of Chuqui-yapu; and lands of people like Aruni and Collahua.(ALCEDO).

• Qullasuyu territory. The Qullasuyu extended from its center on the shores of Lake Intikjarka (Titicaca), through the Andean plateau, into the lower valleys, and lowlands of Western Bolivia, as well as parts of Northern Chile, Argentina, and Peru. Map © The Achacachi Post™

But the Qullas (Collas) were not totally defeated, but rather they reached an agreement with the Inca leaders, it is for that reason that Qullas even speak their own language: the aymará.

All these dominions like the Canas, Canchis, Collas, Carangas, Charcas and all south land were known by de Incas with an only name: Qullasuyu, because the Qullas were the last ones and more difficult to conquer in this region of the South (Coc-yaviri) and, also, the term “qulla” derives from the aymara word "k'ullu" that means 'hard', 'brave', 'awkward’. The Qullas were known with this name by the Inca leaders for the capacity to resist the invasion.

When the Inca ruler from Cuzco reached an agreement with the Qullas, he was able to incorporate the entire Qullasuyu rather easily. The Ayllus of the region, simply switched alleigances to the Inca, whose peoples had also borrowed the communal arrangement from the Qullas centuries before.

The Qullasuyu extended from its center on the shores of Lake Intikjarka (Titicaca), through the Andean plateau, into the lower valleys, and lowlands of Western Bolivia, as well as parts of Northern Chile, Argentina, and Peru. Lowland peoples such as the Guarani's and some Amazonic tribes are descendants from more nomadic Collas who pushed into that area.

The unifier was the Aymara language, and the family/community agricultural system, the "Ayllu", which started with familiar and tribal clusters, and which was ruled from above in a complex and interwoven system.

The rulers from Cuzco, built roads through the Qullasuyu, and pushed at the frontier trying to conquer lowland tribes, and populating these regions with Qullas, whom were pushed out of parts of the Altiplano and subsituted by Quechua speakers. A good part of what became Alto Peru (and Bolivia) after the Spanish conquest is simply imposed over the borders that the Inca had defined, which was essentially the Qullasuyu with some added territory. It simply reflects the natural movements of peoples out of the Andes, incorporating lowlands and tropical regions.

The Spaniards in the process of the conquest catellanized the name "Qulla" to "Colla".

Besides the function of administration of justice, they also have government's functions. He was the responsible for the economic security of their marka. In this service it was helped by the mallkus or jilak'ätas according to the zone (Urinsaya, Anansaya) of each Ayllu or community.

This authority used to be chosen in the person that had experience in the two cultures, the Qulla and the conquerors—the Spanish—culture.

This authority disappeared with the creation of the Republic.

Ý Jilak'ätas or Mallkus. Authorities with traditional dress: poncho Huayruru (red and black) and a whip. • © Photo by La Razon™ newspaper.

This function it is a political-religious career, a scale of borrowed services to the community, accompanied by a moral testimony demonstrated in the practical life to infuse respect and power.

The Jilak'äta’s or Mallku’s main function is direct and governs its ayllu or community, presiding over the meetings and taking the initiative in works of the same one.

Among their attributions are:

The duration of their functions it is approximately of four months or the lapse between the sow and the crop.

Peru. According to the census of the INEI-Peru 1993 there are approximately 300.000 Peruvian Qullas. They are concentrated in the Departments of Puno, Moquegua and Tacna.

Chile. The census of the INE-Chile 1992 throws approximately 50.000 Chilean Qullas inhabitants concentrated in the regions I and II (Tarapacá and Antofagasta)

Bolivia. According to the census of the INE-Bolivia 1992 there are 1.237.658 Bolivian Qullas inhabitants. For the most part concentrated in the Departments of La Paz, Oruro, Potosí and Cochabamba.

In Bolivia, according to the anthropologist Xavier Albo, the main qulla regions are:

1. In the department of La Paz, the counties Tamayo, Saavedra, Camacho, Muñecas, Manco Kapac, Omasuyos, Larecaja, Los Andes, Murillo, Ingavi, Nor Yungas, South Yungas, Pacajes, Aroma, Loayza, Inquisivi and Villarroel.
2. In Oruro, Sajama, Carangas, Cercado, Atahuallpa, Litoral, Saucarí, Dalence, Poopó, Cabrera and Abaroa counties.
3. In Potosí, for the counties Ibañez, Bustillos, Bilbao, Charcas, Chayanta, Quijarro, Frias, Campero and Campos.
4. In Cochabamba, are the counties Tapacarí and Ayopaya.
5. In Chuquisaca, the county Oropeza.