Don Melchior Caruarayco Analysis

Don Melchior Caruarayco was a kuraka whose reign was filled with adversity and conflict, however through all of it; he stuck to his Andean roots and proceeded on as lord of Cajamarca. As a kuraka, don Melchior entered his reign during a period of time when Spanish colonialism was forging a stronghold on Andean civilization and practices. Throughout his reign he encountered three major conflicts: religion, tribute, and power. As the Spanish began their colonization, they had brought with them Christianity and forced it onto the Andean society. Don Melchior, however, stuck with his people and allowed them to continue practicing the belief of their ancestors. He tried his best, I believe, to improve the interests of his people both by allowing the secret continuation of their religion and by making it possible for his people to continue paying their tribute to the Spanish, even as Andean population seemingly continuously declined year after year. He had to decide on whether he would increase the “taxes” that would have to be paid by each person to make up for those whom were no longer a part of their population, or begin paying more tribute by himself in means of corn, potatoes, and animals to the Spanish, which was no longer a feasible solution to this population decline and tribute demanded increase. Meanwhile, he “reflected his concern for the poor and disadvantaged among

I say this for the reason that Chi “joined” with the Spanish to preserve his kingdom. It takes a real man to join the opposing side to benefit his own. Chi truly wanted to preserve his territory and people and realized the only way to successfully do so was by cooperating with the Spanish colonists, whereas don Melchior may have agreed with the Spaniards, he, in the religious aspect, allowed his people to continue their religion after the Franciscans tried forcing Christianity on to