Abstract

MORRONE, Ariel J. Between altars and desks. Ethnic leadership and local power in the pen of three priests-chroniclers of Lake Titicaca (1570-1650). Mem. am. [online]. 2019, vol.27, n.1, pp.51-86.  Epub June 01, 2019. ISSN 1851-3751.

By late sixteenth century colonial rule in Southern Andes included processes of reduction of ethnic groups to pueblos de indios (native villages) and an increase of the religious conversion by parish priests (curas doctrineros). The transformations among the native groups in 1570-1650 enabled new margins of action for three social actors that became knots of local power: the provincial governor (corregidor), the ethnic leader (cacique) and the priest. To examine the interactions between these authorities in the pueblos belonging to the corregimientos of Lake Titicaca we analyze some discourses elaborated by religious about their contemporary caciques: such as Fray Martín de Murúa, Fray Alonso Ramos Gavilán and Licenciado Pedro Vallejo de Velasco, whose offices where in the pueblos of Capachica (corregimiento of Paucarcolla), Copacabana (corregimiento of Omasuyos) and Caquiaviri (corregimiento of Pacajes), respectively, during the last decades of the sixteenth century and the first half of the seventeenth century.

Keywords : ethnic leadership; local power; caciques; parish priests.

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