The army of Peru and the Tupac Amaru revolt, 1780-1783

Abstract

A brief summary of the structure, distribution, and function of the Army of Peru prior to 1780 will help to explain the changes taking place after that time. It should first be recognized that Peru's enormous size, ten times that of Spain itself, made defense extremely difficult. The development of Peru's power as a vice-royalty rested on a civil and religious, rather than a military, base.