Who they were
Born Julián Apaza, he took a name honoring the Inca rebels Túpac Amaru and Tomás Katari. In 1781 he led Aymara forces in a long siege of the colonial city of La Paz.
What they did
His rebellion, alongside that of Túpac Amaru II, shook Spanish control across the southern Andes. It drew on deep grievances over tribute, forced labor, and abuse.
Legacy
Túpac Katari was captured and brutally executed in 1781, reportedly vowing that he would return as millions. His name endures as a rallying symbol of Indigenous and Bolivian movements.