Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II |
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| Part of the decolonization of the Americas | |||||||
 An 1784 illustration of Túpac Amaru II |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spanish Empire |
 Aymara and Quechua rebels |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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| Strength | |||||||
| Spanish units: 15,000–17,500 soldiers |
Rebel units: 100,000 soldiers 40,000 – 60,000 Siege of Cusco ( 2–9 January. 1781) 10,000 – 40,000 Siege of La Paz (14 March. 1781) |
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| 100,000 killed estimated in this two bands. 10,000 died of starvation or illness. |
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The Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II was a major uprising in Peru against Spanish rule. It lasted from November 1780 to March 1783. The rebellion was led by Túpac Amaru II, an important local leader called a cacique. His followers were mostly Aymara and Quechua people, along with some mestizo rebels (people of mixed European and Indigenous heritage).
The main reasons for the rebellion included new Spanish laws called the Bourbon Reforms. These laws made life harder for many people. There was also a desire to bring back the old Inca culture and identity. Even after Túpac Amaru II was captured and executed in 1781, the fight continued for another year.
Contents
Why the Rebellion Started
The Spanish government wanted to control its colonies better. So, they started new rules called the Bourbon Reforms across South America. In 1776, they created a new area called the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. This area took away important silver mines from Peru.
The silver from these mines now went to Buenos Aires instead of Cuzco and Lima. This caused economic problems in parts of Peru. Also, Indigenous people and mestizos faced unfair treatment. These issues often led to smaller uprisings.
New Taxes and Inca Prophecies
In 1778, Spain raised taxes on goods like rum. They also made their tax system stricter. They needed money to help with the American Revolutionary War.
José Gabriel Condorcanqui was an Indigenous leader with ties to the Inca royal family. He took the name Túpac Amaru II, honoring the last Inca emperor. In 1780, he called for a rebellion. He claimed he was acting for the King of Spain to fix corrupt colonial rule. He was also inspired by a belief that the Inca would rule again. The hard work forced on Indigenous miners also added to the unrest.
Rebellion Near Cusco
On November 4, 1780, Túpac Amaru II and his followers captured Antonio Arriaga. Arriaga was the local Spanish governor, called a corregidor. They forced Arriaga to write letters asking for money and weapons. Six days later, Arriaga was executed in front of many people.
After this, Túpac Amaru II announced his demands. He wanted to end the mita system, which forced Indigenous people to work. He also wanted to limit the power of the corregidores. Túpac Amaru II gathered many supporters, mostly Indigenous people and mestizos.
Battle of Sangarará
On November 17, Túpac Amaru II reached Sangarará. Spanish forces had gathered there. Túpac's army, which had grown to thousands, attacked them the next day. They won the battle, defeating the Spanish.
Túpac then moved south. His wife and important leader, Micaela Bastidas, wanted him to attack Cuzco right away. But he did not. Micaela Bastidas was a key leader in the rebellion. She led an uprising in the San Felipe de Tungasucsa area. Soon, Túpac's forces controlled most of southern Peru.
Spanish Response and Capture
Spanish leaders, like José Antonio de Areche, sent troops from far away to stop the rebellion. Túpac Amaru II's army had 40,000 to 60,000 followers. But the Spanish military was very strong.
Spanish troops helped defend Cuzco from Túpac's attack in late 1780. After these failures, some of Túpac's supporters started to leave him. Many upper-class criollos (people of Spanish descent born in the Americas) rejoined the Spanish side. The Spanish also offered forgiveness to rebels who gave up.
By February 1781, the Spanish were winning. A large army, mostly made of Indigenous people loyal to Spain, surrounded the rebels. On April 6, Túpac Amaru II and his family were captured. Tomasa Tito Condemayta, another Indigenous noble leader, was also captured. On May 15, Túpac was sentenced to death. On May 18, his wife and one of his children were executed.
After Túpac Amaru II's Death
Even after Túpac Amaru II was captured and executed, the rebellion did not stop. His cousin, Diego Cristóbal Túpac Amaru, continued the fight. They used guerilla tactics, which are small, surprise attacks. The rebellion moved to the highlands around Lake Titicaca.
Túpac Katari's female commander, Bartola Sisa, also kept fighting. She led 2,000 troops for several months. But eventually, the Spanish army defeated them. The Spanish struggled to end the rebellion. Many of their soldiers left, locals were hostile, and the high altitude caused problems for troops from lowlands.
Continuing the Fight
An army led by Diego Cristóbal took control of the city of Puno on May 7, 1781. They used Puno as a base to attack across Upper Peru. Diego Cristóbal held the city until he decided to accept an offer of forgiveness from the Spanish.
A peace agreement was made on December 12. Diego Cristóbal's forces officially surrendered on January 26, 1782. Some rebels still fought, but the main part of the rebellion was over. The last organized groups were defeated by May 1782.
Sadly, Diego, his mother, and some allies were arrested and executed by the Spanish in July 1783. The Spanish claimed they had broken the peace agreement. During the rebellion, especially after Túpac Amaru II's death, there was a lot of violence. Many people died on both sides. It is estimated that 100,000 Indigenous people and 10,000 to 40,000 non-Indigenous people were killed.
Women in the Revolution
In the mid-1700s, women in Latin America started to have more active roles. They became involved in politics, the economy, and culture. Many women worked making cotton cloth or as market traders.
Because of these changes, women played a big part in the Túpac Amaru II revolt. Túpac's wife, Micaela Bastidas, led her own group of fighters. She and her group were important in the uprising in the San Felipe de Tungasucan region.
Micaela Bastidas and Bartola Sisa protested against high prices, unfair food distribution, and high taxes. They also fought against the racist treatment of Indigenous people. Even though women were very active in the revolution, their efforts often received little attention.
Aftermath of the Rebellion
After the rebellion, the Spanish tried to make some changes. The Viceroy, Jáuregui, reduced the forced labor (mita) to address some complaints. In 1784, a new leader, Teodoro de Croix, got rid of the corregidores. He reorganized the colonial government. In 1787, a new high court, an audiencia, was set up in Cuzco.
After Túpac Amaru II's execution, Spanish leaders tried to erase Inca culture. They banned the Quechua language and Indigenous clothing. They also tried to stop any mention of Inca history. However, the Spanish did not have enough resources to enforce these laws, and they were soon forgotten. Still, paintings showing the Inca were destroyed. The role of the cacique (Indigenous leader) was also ended. Many caciques were replaced by Spanish administrators. This weakened the power of Indigenous leaders.
See also
In Spanish: Rebelión de Túpac Amaru II para niños
- Revolt of the Comuneros, a 1781 revolt in the Viceroyalty of New Granada caused by the Bourbon Reforms
- Huilliche uprising of 1792, an indigenous uprising in southern Chile against Spanish encroachment.
