Atusparía, Pedro Pablo

Died 1885. Leader of the Indian peasants of the Huaras region (Peruvian highlands), who rebelled in 1885 against the oppression of the landlords. Atusparia was arrested together with other village elders and subjected to torture for opposition to the illegal introduction of personal compulsory labor obligation for peasants. Aroused Indian peasants freed the prisoners and elected Atusparia their leader in the struggle with the landlords. For two months the rebels repulsed the attacks of government troops. In one of the battles, Atusparia was wounded and taken prisoner. Charged with treason, he took poison. The death of Atusparia hastened the collapse of the uprising, but the uprising itself, however, exerted an influence on the development of the peasant movement in other regions of Peru.