This doctoral thesis is an investigation that addresses the issue of heroism and tyranny in three texts corresponding to the turbulent period of the conquest of Peru (16th century). In four chapters we have deal with the following items: a) the theoretical framework concerning heroism, tyranny, as well as the state of the question of the conquest chronicles; b) the analysis of the representation of the tyrannical and the heroic in soldierly relationships and, especially, in Verdadera relación de la Conquista del Perú (Francisco de Xerez, 1534); c) the analysis of the representation of the tyranny of the conquering soldier in the texts of the criticalist current, especially in la Relación Conquista y población del Pirú, fundación de algunos pueblos (Bartolomé de Segovia, c. 1552-1558); and d) the study of the representation of the peacemaker hero and the encomendero insurgent in the reports and chronicles of the civil wars, with special interest in Relación de Pedro Hernández Paniagua (1547).
The analysis of the texts will be developed from a broad perspective; mainly, structural semiotics and the ideological and constructive study of the characters' speeches were used. In general terms, it is highlighted that in the cited relations of Francisco de Xerez and Pedro Hernández the role of the hero and the tyrant changes according to the interests, education and social function of the authors, while in the relation of Bartolomé de Segovia the role of the heroic conquering soldier is cancelled, giving way to his representation as a tyrant only.
Likewise, it will be highlighted that the language and configuration of the characters have been elaborated according to their level of proximity to the hegemonic power, or if they correspond to hetero or self-representation discourses. On the other hand, it is shown that the actions and words of the characters represented in the conquest reports have had a treatment that suits the purposes of the story and of the authors, whether these are soldiers, Crown officials or religious men.

[Doctoral thesis supervised by Rufino Gonzalo Espino Relucé. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Universidad del Perú, 2022].

Available at: Cybertesis.