De "Señores de indios" a Nobles rentistas: los encomenderos de La Paz (1548-1621)

Abstract

Since 1548, the city of Nuestra Señora de La Paz was the seat of Spanish power in Aymara high plain. Many members of troops who were loyal to the king during civil wars became vecinos and, as such, granted the right to collect tribute and to dispose of the labour of nearby native repartimientos. These encomenderos quickly gathered as a powerful group in the cabildo of La Paz, controlling the destinies of native population and their resources. Late conflicts with central government redefined the meaning of encomienda, aiming to the monetization of native tribute and the limitation of jurisdictional powers of the encomenderos. In early 17th century, encomienda became a status marker for tenants which, in many cases, did not even live in Perú. This article aims to re-evaluate the topic of encomienda and to examine the formation and consolidation of the elite of La Paz, attending to the impact of encomienda on native territoriality, the tension between this encomendero core and viceregal power, and the transformations of the very institution up to the early decades of 17th century.