Mateo Pumacahua
Encyclopedia
Mateo García Pumacahua (September 21, 1740 – March 17, 1815) was a Peruvian revolutionary in the War of Independence.
of Chinchero, brigadier
of the militia
of the Viceroyalty of Peru
, and interim president of the Audiencia of Cuzco
. Pumacahua was a member of the Inca
nobility of Ayarmaca
descent, who also has some Spanish ancestry.
Pumacahua helped defeat the rebel army of Túpac Amaru II
in 1781, an event depicted in a mural at the church of Chinchero. Three decades later, despite being in his seventies, Pumacahua participated in the expeditions viceroy José Fernando de Abascal
sent against the junta of La Paz in Upper Peru
during 1811. Nevertheless, he later joined an insurrection on August 3, 1814, demanding the full implementation of the Spanish Constitution of 1812
in Peru. Pumacahua was appointed a member a governing junta
. Pumacahua led an army which occupied Arequipa
on November 10. On November 30, Pumacahua's army retreated from Arequipa to the Cuzco and Puno
regions. On March 11, 1815, Pumacahua and his troops were defeated at Umachiri. He was captured and executed in May by the royal army.
Biography
Pumacahua was the caciqueCacique
Cacique is a title derived from the Taíno word for the pre-Columbian chiefs or leaders of tribes in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles...
of Chinchero, brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
of the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
of the Viceroyalty of Peru
Viceroyalty of Peru
Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru was a Spanish colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima...
, and interim president of the Audiencia of Cuzco
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...
. Pumacahua was a member of the Inca
Inca civilization
The Andean civilizations made up a loose patchwork of different cultures that developed from the highlands of Colombia to the Atacama Desert. The Andean civilizations are mainly based on the cultures of Ancient Peru and some others such as Tiahuanaco. The Inca Empire was the last sovereign...
nobility of Ayarmaca
Ayarmaca
The Ayarmaca are an ethnic group located northwest of Cuzco in the area of modern Maras. The Ayarmaca were subjugated by the Inca during their earliest period of state expansion, ca. AD 1300. After losing their power under Inca rule, the Ayarmaca people were resettled in various communities in the...
descent, who also has some Spanish ancestry.
Pumacahua helped defeat the rebel army of Túpac Amaru II
Túpac Amaru II
Túpac Amaru II was a leader of an indigenous uprising in 1780 against the Spanish in Peru...
in 1781, an event depicted in a mural at the church of Chinchero. Three decades later, despite being in his seventies, Pumacahua participated in the expeditions viceroy José Fernando de Abascal
José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa
José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa, 1st Marquis of La Concordia , was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator in America...
sent against the junta of La Paz in Upper Peru
Upper Peru
Upper Peru was the region in the Viceroyalty of Peru, and after 1776, the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, comprising the governorships of Potosí, La Paz, Cochabamba, Los Chiquitos, Moxos and Charcas...
during 1811. Nevertheless, he later joined an insurrection on August 3, 1814, demanding the full implementation of the Spanish Constitution of 1812
Spanish Constitution of 1812
The Spanish Constitution of 1812 was promulgated 19 March 1812 by the Cádiz Cortes, the national legislative assembly of Spain, while in refuge from the Peninsular War...
in Peru. Pumacahua was appointed a member a governing junta
Junta (Peninsular War)
In the Napoleonic era, junta was the name chosen by several local administrations formed in Spain during the Peninsular War as a patriotic alternative to the official administration toppled by the French invaders...
. Pumacahua led an army which occupied Arequipa
Arequipa
Arequipa is the capital city of the Arequipa Region in southern Peru. With a population of 836,859 it is the second most populous city of the country...
on November 10. On November 30, Pumacahua's army retreated from Arequipa to the Cuzco and Puno
Puno Region
Puno is a region in southeastern Peru. It is bordered by Bolivia on the east, the Madre de Dios Region on the north, the Cusco and Arequipa regions on the west, the Moquegua Region on the southwest, and the Tacna Region on the south...
regions. On March 11, 1815, Pumacahua and his troops were defeated at Umachiri. He was captured and executed in May by the royal army.