Ñusta, which roughly translates to "princess" in the Quechua language, is a term for a highly noble or upper-class woman of Inca or Andean birth. Inca noblewoman were essentially part of the Inca Empire also called "Tawantinsuyu" where they spoke the traditional Inca spoken language "Quechua."Ñustas were not full descendants of Incan royalty. Therefore, the Quechua term was used to denote the regional origin of the ñusta's non-royal parent. A ñusta could range from being the daughter or half-sister of the Sapa Inca himself, one of his lesser wives, or a wife or daughter of another high-ranking male noble, such as the heads of the local municipalities, Kurakas. The Spaniards recognized ñustas as noblewomen and added the Spanish term “Doña” to their Christian and Andean names.
As Ñustas were part of the Inca culture, there would be a large focus and heavily connection when it comes to familial relations. One of the most important foundations and ideologies was family unification and adapting to a bounded organization. They also engaged with the process of creating food surpluses, maintain economic prosperity and having multiple opportunities to establishing a stabilized society being part of the Inca civilization.
Marriage
As noblewomen, ñustas faced a unique form of gendered scrutiny: they were traded with neighbouring communities to forge alliances or perpetuate Incan imperial rule. For instance, after defeating a polity, the Sapa Inca would often take a wife from the leading family and marry one of his ñusta daughters to his subjects. The choice of suitor in the marriages of ñustas was outside of the woman's control, and instead, was a matter of state policy. The most desirable state for a ñusta was being married, for it kept them from dishonourable pursuits and enabled the family empire to expand.
When Spaniards arrived in the Indigenous Americas, they themselves adopted the practice of trading women, after observation of the longstanding Incan tradition. This is in fact how Spaniards made their claim for power in the Incan imperial system. Indigenous rulers presented European conquistadors with women, specifically ñustas, from the earliest encounters. Through this practice, ñustas were often the first to become intimately acquainted with Spaniards as they became the mediators between the colonizers and colonized, and integrated Europeans into established Incan kinship networks.
While the Spaniard-ñusta cohabitation initially began as a means of securing a spot among the Incan elites, legal marriage between the Spanish and ñustas later produced a mixed local elite system that forged the core political and economic networks of Spanish Peru. Ñustas involved in these marriages were often conscious of the political weight their title held, and became active agents in the main historical events of this period. In other words, Inca women would inherit a nobility status through marital privileges, and this automatically allowed granted them access to some of the wealthiest lands and resources. This could be seen in Ñusta Ines Huaylas Yupanqui who took advantage of her proximity to her conquistador husband to hinder Inca Manco's claim to rule. Likewise, Ñusta Cuxirimay Ocllo used her elite title and relations with the Spaniards to demand the possession of numerous lands and labourers in the valley of Yucay, near Cuzco.
Role in the public sphere
While ñustas were incredibly sheltered, they did not live in total isolation. They often played active roles in public ceremonies and accompanied their high-ranking male family members to investitures, masses, baptisms, funerals, and other religious ceremonies. Despite being guarded, ñustas lived lives of sociability and comparative luxury: they were better fed, housed, clothed, and attended than any other group of women (except the Coya). Along with being surrounded by servants and slaves, much of a ñusta’s social life was spent gossiping, visiting friends, and participating in church-sponsored charities. Ñustas were additionally renowned weavers and made beautiful textiles. Their clothing consisted of complex patterns, which showcased their skill and artistry.
Inca men and women did share the bondage and responsibility of taking care of the State's farmland through agricultural activities of harvesting, planting, and plowing. Inca women were powerful workers as they did have the chance to endure in warfare alongside their husbands. However, they also would maintain the household and care for the children.
