AYMARA CHIEF TOMAS KATARI DIED—HIS ARREST LED TO UPPER PERU REBELLION
Born in San Pedro de Macha, Bolivia, Tomás Katari was a Quechua chief who, in support of indigenous rights, led a popular uprising in Upper Peru (present Bolivia). During the 1770s, relations between the San Pedro de Macha community and Spanish colonial officials were strained due to increased taxes. In 1778, Katari was arrested when he went to Buenos Aires seeking justice. This sparked the rebellion which began in late August 1780. Katari was freed, but, in December 1780, he was captured by a local miner on orders from the justicia mayor. Katari was executed by royalist forces as he was being taken to La Plata. Rebel forces witnessing this executed the justicia mayor, the miner, and 5 soldiers. Tomás’s cousins, Nicolás and Dámaso Katari, then took over leadership, expanding the rebellion to other communities in Upper Peru desiring to link with Tupac Amaru’s uprising. They were executed in La Plata and the cause was then taken up by Julián Apasa, under the name of Túpac Katari.
Sources: Sinclair Thomson, We Alone Will Rule (University of Wisconsin Press, 2002). Retrieved 6/10/2020, We Alone Will Rule: Native Andean Politics in the Age of Insurgency - Sinclair Thomson - Google Books MAP: Bettyreategui, 10/22/2016. Upper Peru. Permissive Use.
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