Felipe Túpac Amaru De Castro Yupanqui

Felipe Túpac Amaru De Castro Yupanqui was an indigenous Quechua leader who led a major rebellion against Spanish colonial rule in 18th century Peru. Unlike in our timeline, Túpac Amaru was able to successfully overthrow the Spanish and re-establish an independent Inca Empire that endured until the 20th century.

Early Life and the Túpac Amaru Rebellion

Túpac Amaru was born in 1738 in the town of Tungasuca, Peru, to a noble Inca family. He claimed descent from the last Sapa Inca, Túpac Amaru I, who had been executed by the Spanish in 1572. This heritage fueled Túpac Amaru's lifelong ambition to restore the Inca Empire to its former glory.

In 1780, Túpac Amaru launched a major indigenous uprising known as the Túpac Amaru Rebellion. Leading an army of Quechua and Aymara fighters, he quickly seized control of the Cusco region and began pushing the Spanish colonial authorities back. Over the next three years, Túpac Amaru's forces defeated the Spanish in a series of major battles and surrounded Lima, the colonial capital.

Establishment of the Restored Inca Empire

In 1783, Túpac Amaru decisively defeated the last Spanish army sent to crush his rebellion. He then marched triumphantly into Lima and declared the restoration of the independent Inca Empire. The 45-year-old Túpac Amaru was crowned as the new Sapa Inca, or emperor, establishing his capital in Cusco.

Over the next four decades, Túpac Amaru worked to rebuild and modernize the Inca state. He abolished the encomienda system of forced indigenous labor, redistributed land to peasant communities, and invested heavily in infrastructure like roads, bridges, and irrigation systems. The Inca Empire prospered economically under his rule.

Politically, Túpac Amaru consolidated power by replacing the old aristocratic Inca nobility with a new governing class drawn from successful indigenous military commanders and administrators. He also established an imperial parliament to provide checks on his absolute authority as Sapa Inca.

The Inca Empire in the 19th Century

When Túpac Amaru died in 1824 at the age of 86, he was succeeded by his son, Manco Cápac II, who continued the policies of modernization and expansion. Under Manco Cápac II and subsequent Sapa Incas, the Inca Empire grew to encompass most of the Andes region, including Ecuador, Bolivia, and parts of Colombia and Argentina.

The restored Inca Empire was able to fend off numerous attempts by the United States, Britain, France, and other powers to conquer or colonize it. Adopting new military technologies like railroads, firearms, and warships, the Inca military became a formidable force capable of defending its sovereignty.

In the late 19th century, the Inca Empire experienced an industrial and scientific revolution, with Inca engineers and inventors making major advances in fields like metallurgy, civil engineering, and energy production. This allowed the empire to maintain its independence and even exert influence over weaker neighbors in the early 20th century.

Legacy and Significance

Túpac Amaru is revered today as the last great Sapa Inca and a towering figure in indigenous resistance against colonial oppression. He remains an enduring symbol of Quechua and Aymara pride, with monuments, holidays, and cultural festivals honoring his legacy across the Andes.

The sustained existence of the Inca Empire under Túpac Amaru's leadership had profound implications. It prevented the complete colonization of South America by European powers and allowed indigenous cultures, languages, and political systems to survive and even thrive. The Inca Empire's economic and technological progress also reshaped global trade and geopolitics in the 19th and 20th centuries.

While the restored Inca state eventually declined due to internal strife and pressure from rising global powers, Túpac Amaru's achievement in overthrowing colonial rule and reestablishing indigenous sovereignty continues to inspire indigenous movements across the Americas and the world. He stands as one of history's great anti-colonial revolutionaries.