Juan Santos Atahualpa
Encyclopedia
Juan Santos Atahualpa was a leader of an indigenous rebellion in the Andean jungle provinces of Tarma
and Jauja
, near what was then Spanish Peru
in the mid 18th century.
What little that is known about Juan Santos is that he was from Cusco
and had been given a Christian education by the Jesuits. Juan Santos himselft claimed to be descended from the Inca royal family. The name Atahualpa
comes from the line of kings who ruled the Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu) up until the Spanish Conquest of 1532.
Juan Santos Atahualpa died sometime between 1755 and 1756 of unknown causes. Following his death his rebellion remained contained to Tarma and Jauja. Spanish authorities were not able to re-exert control over the region until the 1780s when merchants and missionaries returned.
, beginning in the jungle
and spreading to the highlands and the coast. The culmination of his rebellion, Juan Santos claimed, would be his coronation as Sapa Inca (supreme ruler of Tawantinsuyu) in the capital city of Lima
. He was also very influenced by Christianity: Jesuit and Franciscan
visitors to his camp remarked on how everybody prayed daily in not only indigenous tongues but also in Spanish (Castilian) and Latin.
s from the area. As Atahualpa's rebellion began to grow in both numbers and support Spanish authorities in the Tarma and Jauja provinces attempted unsuccessfully to pacify the rebellion. Emboldened, Atahualpa ordered the eviction of all Franciscan missionaries from the land he controlled. This in turn led to the viceroy of Lima sending out General Jose de Llamas, a seasoned veteran, to crush the revolt. This too was unsuccessful and the general and his men suffered constant defeats at the hands of the rebels. In 1752 Atahualpa and his men left the lowlands and seized the mountain city of Andamarca in the highlands of Jauja province. Although he and his men retreated back to the lowlands three days later it seemed having frightened the viceroy. The assault on the highlands forced the viceroy of Lima to place Tarma and Jauja into the hands of military governors, who built a defensive string of fortresses to keep Atahualpa's rebellion from spreading beyond the region.
Juan Santos Atahualpa died sometime between 1755 and 1756 of unknown causes. Following his death his rebellion remained contained to Tarma and Jauja. Spanish authorities were not able to re-exert control over the region until the 1780s when merchants and missionaries returned.
Tarma
Santa Ana de la Ribera de Tarma is a city in Junín Region, Perú. Tarma is the capital city of the Province of Tarma, and is also called the Pearl of the Andes. The city is located at around , at an elevation of around 3000 m...
and Jauja
Jauja
Jauja is a city and capital of Jauja Province in Peru. It is situated in the fertile Mantaro Valley, to the northwest of Huancayo , at an altitude of . Its population according to the 2007 census was 16,424....
, near what was then Spanish Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
in the mid 18th century.
What little that is known about Juan Santos is that he was from Cusco
Cusco
Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
and had been given a Christian education by the Jesuits. Juan Santos himselft claimed to be descended from the Inca royal family. The name Atahualpa
Atahualpa
Atahualpa, Atahuallpa, Atabalipa, or Atawallpa , was the last Sapa Inca or sovereign emperor of the Tahuantinsuyu, or the Inca Empire, prior to the Spanish conquest of Peru...
comes from the line of kings who ruled the Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu) up until the Spanish Conquest of 1532.
Beginnings
Atahualpa's rebellion began in the jungle settlement of Quisopango in 1742. His first act was to expel all hostile Spaniards, blacks and mestizos from the area. As Atahualpa's rebellion began to grow in both numbers and support Spanish authorities in the Tarma and Jauja provinces attempted unsuccessfully to pacify the rebellion. Emboldened, Atahualpa ordered the eviction of all Franciscan missionaries from the land he controlled. This in turn led to the viceroy of Lima sending out General Jose de Llamas, a seasoned veteran, to crush the revolt. This too was unsuccessful and the general and his men suffered constant defeats at the hands of the rebels. In 1752 Atahualpa and his men left the lowlands and seized the mountain city of Andamarca in the highlands of Jauja province. Although he and his men retreated back to the lowlands three days later it seemed having frightened the viceroy. The assault on the highlands forced the viceroy of Lima to place Tarma and Jauja into the hands of military governors, who built a defensive string of fortresses to keep Atahualpa's rebellion from spreading beyond the region.Juan Santos Atahualpa died sometime between 1755 and 1756 of unknown causes. Following his death his rebellion remained contained to Tarma and Jauja. Spanish authorities were not able to re-exert control over the region until the 1780s when merchants and missionaries returned.
Guide lines of the projected rebellion
Juan Santos Atahualpa's ideas and ideology remain mysterious, with information concerning him coming from usually hostile accounts by Franciscan missionaries. He was heavily influenced by nativist and messianic ideology. By revolting against Spanish rule, he sought to balance the cosmic order, which he felt was disrupted by the Spanish Conquest of 1532. Juan Santos promised his revolt would bring peace and prosperity to all the AndesAndes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, beginning in the jungle
Jungle
A Jungle is an area of land in the tropics overgrown with dense vegetation.The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala which referred to uncultivated land. Although the Sanskrit word refers to "dry land", it has been suggested that an Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its...
and spreading to the highlands and the coast. The culmination of his rebellion, Juan Santos claimed, would be his coronation as Sapa Inca (supreme ruler of Tawantinsuyu) in the capital city of Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
. He was also very influenced by Christianity: Jesuit and Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
visitors to his camp remarked on how everybody prayed daily in not only indigenous tongues but also in Spanish (Castilian) and Latin.
The rebellion 1742-1755/6 with expulsions and reconquests
Atahualpa's rebellion began in the jungle settlement of Quisopango in 1742. His first act was to expel all hostile Spaniards, blacks and mestizoMestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
s from the area. As Atahualpa's rebellion began to grow in both numbers and support Spanish authorities in the Tarma and Jauja provinces attempted unsuccessfully to pacify the rebellion. Emboldened, Atahualpa ordered the eviction of all Franciscan missionaries from the land he controlled. This in turn led to the viceroy of Lima sending out General Jose de Llamas, a seasoned veteran, to crush the revolt. This too was unsuccessful and the general and his men suffered constant defeats at the hands of the rebels. In 1752 Atahualpa and his men left the lowlands and seized the mountain city of Andamarca in the highlands of Jauja province. Although he and his men retreated back to the lowlands three days later it seemed having frightened the viceroy. The assault on the highlands forced the viceroy of Lima to place Tarma and Jauja into the hands of military governors, who built a defensive string of fortresses to keep Atahualpa's rebellion from spreading beyond the region.
Juan Santos Atahualpa died sometime between 1755 and 1756 of unknown causes. Following his death his rebellion remained contained to Tarma and Jauja. Spanish authorities were not able to re-exert control over the region until the 1780s when merchants and missionaries returned.