| Name | Viceroyalty of Peru |
| Legacy | Emerged as a powerful Andean nation that would shape regional politics for centuries. |
| Capital | |
| History | Maintained close political and cultural ties to the Inca legacy. Saw repeated indigenous uprisings against Spanish rule, which were generally suppressed. Gained independence in the late 18th century. |
| Successor | Independent Andean nation |
| Established | 1525 |
| Predecessor |
The Viceroyalty of Peru was a Spanish colonial administrative district that existed from 1525 to 1784, encompassing much of western South America. Unlike the Viceroyalty in our timeline, this version of Peru maintained a strong connection to the legacy of the Inca Empire even after its conquest, with the capital located in the historic Inca center of Cusco rather than Lima.
The Viceroyalty of Peru was established in 1525 following the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire under Francisco Pizarro. Unlike the Viceroyalty established in the 1540s in our timeline, this Peruvian colony maintained a close relationship with the deposed Inca nobility.
Rather than completely dismantling the Inca state, the Spaniards incorporated many existing Inca institutions, officials, and noble families into the colonial administration. The Sapa Inca (emperor) was recognized as the monarch of the Inca subjects, albeit under the overall authority of the Viceroy appointed by the Spanish crown.
This allowed for a blending of Spanish and Inca traditions, with the Viceregal capital of Cusco retaining its status as the cultural and political center of the Andes. The Inca language of Quechua was even granted official status alongside Spanish.
However, the Viceroyalty's relationship with the Inca peoples was often tense. Various indigenous uprisings and rebellions occurred throughout the 16th-18th centuries, though they were generally suppressed by the Viceregal authorities.
The most significant was the Túpac Amaru Rebellion of 1780, led by the self-proclaimed Inca emperor Túpac Amaru II. This broad-based revolt across the Andes nearly overthrew Spanish colonial rule before being crushed after a year of fighting. Tens of thousands of Inca and other indigenous fighters were killed.
Despite these periodic setbacks, the Viceroyalty was able to maintain control through a combination of military force, co-option of Inca nobility, and limited reforms and concessions to indigenous communities. The central role of Cusco and the Inca legacy remained an enduring part of the colonial system.
Inspired by the American and French Revolutions, the Viceroyalty of Peru finally declared independence from Spain in 1784 after over 250 years of colonial rule. The new nation of Peru was led by a multi-ethnic coalition of Creole, mestizo, and Inca nobles who drew on both Spanish and Inca political traditions.
The independent Peruvian state quickly established itself as a major power in the Andes, expanding its influence across the region. It engaged in numerous border conflicts and proxy wars with its neighbors, including New Granada, La Plata, and the Captaincy General of Chile.
Domestically, Peru grappled with the legacy of colonialism, including continued tensions between the ruling classes and the indigenous majority. Periodic peasant uprisings and pro-Inca movements kept the new nation in a state of political turmoil for decades.
Nevertheless, by the mid-19th century, Peru had emerged as one of the dominant powers in South America, wielding significant economic and military might. Its unique blending of Spanish and Inca traditions, as well as its status as the heir to the Inca Empire, have made it a central player in Andean geopolitics to this day.
