Viceroyalty of Peru
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Bartolina Sisa
Caracato (Loayza), Viceroyalty of Peru
Archival Overview
Aymara military commander, queen, and strategist who co-led the 1781 indigenous rebellion in Bolivia alongside her husband Tupac Katari, commanding troops during the Siege of La Paz; September 5 is celebrated as International Indigenous Women's Day in her honor.
Biographical Record
Bartolina Sisa (1753–1782) was an Aymara textile merchant and equestrian expert who mastered military logistics, reconnaissance, and hand-to-hand combat with slings, spears, and clubs. When Tupac Katari was absent from the frontlines, Sisa assumed supreme military command of the siege encampments on the heights of Pampahasi and Killi Killi.
Her battlefield authority was respected by all Aymara and Quechua warriors. Captured through betrayal in July 1781, Sisa endured months of torture without betraying the movement. Executed by the Spanish on September 5, 1782, her date of death was established in 1983 as International Day of Indigenous Women.
Key Life Milestones
Supreme Command at the Siege of La Paz
Commanded native battalions on the heights of Killi Killi, directing artillery and earthen floodworks.
Declaration of International Indigenous Women's Day
The Second Meeting of Organizations and Movements of the Americas established September 5 in her honor.
Memorial Guestbook & Tributes
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Final Resting Place
Perpetual MemorialLa Paz, Bolivia