Sapa Inca (Quechua for "the only Inca) was a hereditary position in the Kingdom of Cuzco and later the Inca Empire.
Like in many kingdoms, people believed that the Sapa Inca had a divine origin. In this case, they believed that the dynasty was established by a sun of the Sun God Inti (whose symbol is still visible on the flag of Uruguay). The divine origin of the Sapa Inca, along with his great power as a head of an empire was the reason for respect given him.