He traces his ancestry on his father's side to those who ruled before the Incas. On his mother's side, he says that he is descended from the tenth Inca, Tupac Inca Yupanqui.
Poma is a Christian, and much of his letter is devoted to religious themes. He writes with respect of his half-brother, the priest Martin de Ayala. He respect some of the priests and monks, including the Franciscans. However, Poma is at his most caustic in his denunciations of priests who abuse their office, exploiting the Indians and seducing the women.
For a time, Poma served with Inspector-General of the Church, Don Cristóbal de Albornos, in his mission to eradicate non-Christian practices among the Indians. Poma too inveighs against some of these practices, but other non-Christian practices he deems harmless.
Christian, of Incan and non-Incan descent, with a close attachment
to a mestizo priest, Poma is well equipped to serve as
interpreter for Andean culture. His non-Incan ancestors
had been conquered not long ago by the Incas; in living memory,
his people had been conquered again by the Spanish. His family
must have been accustomed to coming to terms with new conquerers,
new religions, and new languages.
His Ancestry
His dress is European, with hose, a blouse, and a broad-brimmed hat. The dress is similar to that of the Indian upper-class in other of his drawings. In contrast, he draws his parents and lower-class Indians in traditional dress.
Despite his European-style dress, he repeatedly calls himself an Indian chief and identifies with the Indians. I don't see any sign that he considered himself an eccentric, or that other Indians considered him an eccentric.
"My father interested himself in the education of his adopted son Martin de Ayala, a half-caste of mixed Spanish and Indian blood. He caused this boy to enter the service of God and take the habit of a Christian friar when only 12 years old. This was a happy chance for myself. For my half-brother Martin, once he had grown into a man, gave instruction to his brothers including myself. Thus I came to be able to write my `First New Chronicle', having been taught my letters at an early age." (Guaman Poma in Dilke, page 21)
"The reason I am well informed about the [native non-Christian] priests is that I was for a while in the service of the Inspector-General of the Church, Don Cristóbal de Albornos. This Christian judge travelled about the country, destroying every trace of magic and witchcraft that he could find." (Guaman Poma in Dilke, page 76)
"Thus a considerable responsibility rests upon the Indian administrator, who may well be the hereditary chief, holding office immediately under the Spanish administrator....The person who holds this office in Lucanas, Soras, Andmarca and Circamarca is myself, in my capacity of protector of the Indians and deputy to the royal administrator. ...[describes duties of the Indian administrator]" (Guaman Poma in Dilke, page 182)
"From my experience, I would say that an Indian chief needs to have a mixture of gall and honey in his veins, or needs to be a mixture of lion and lamb, if he is to rule successfully. He needs to be bold and docile in turn with the Spanish authorities, according to the circumstances." (Guaman Poma in Dilke, page 174)
Guaman Poma lived in the Sierra of Peru, between the Inca capital of Cuzco in the highlands and the modern capital of Lima on the coast. This is an area that has figured prominently in Andean history: before the Incas, as the heart of the Huari empire; and in recent decades, as the scene of Shining Path guerrilla activity. Some of the place names that figure in Poma's chronicle appear below.
The Incan empire, Tawantinsuyu, was composed of four quarters, roughly indicated on the map:
At the center of the empire was the capital Cuzco. Poma lived here for a time.
On the coast was Lima. Poma also worked and lived here. At the end of his life, he brought his letter to Lima to be sent to Spain.
Huánuco was Poma's birthplace, according to Varallanos. Poma says that this city formerly had his family name of "Huaman Poma" but was renamed by the conquerers.
Ayacucho: (formerly named Huamanga). Poma moved here when he was 9, according to Varallanos.
Lucanas: Poma identified himself as the chief of the Lucanas. He write of "my own home among the Andamarca, Sora, and Lucana Indians of Central Peru." These peoples are found in the southern part of Lucanas, indicated on the map.
Castovirreyña and Huancavelica are cities that figure in the Poma's travels.