How did Spanish corregidores govern Indigenous communities in colonial Peru?

In colonial Peru, corregidores (specifically known as corregidores de Indios) were Spanish magistrates appointed to govern Indigenous communities. Their role was officially intended to protect the interests of both the Spanish crown and the Indigenous population.12

However, in practice, the office was frequently characterized by corruption and oppression. Corregidores generally obtained their positions through purchase, a system that often incentivized them to exploit their authority for personal gain. Under the administrative reforms of Viceroy Francisco de Toledo (1569–1581), these officials oversaw local affairs while Indigenous chieftains were tasked with collecting tribute and organizing forced labor.12

The corregidores functioned as the primary link between the Spanish colonial administration and the Indigenous communities, wielding both administrative and judicial powers. Their governance was part of a highly stratified society that relied heavily on the exploitation of Indigenous labor, contributing to the systemic oppression that eventually fueled major uprisings, such as the revolt led by Túpac Amaru II in 1780.12