caciques

Caciques were local indigenous or political leaders in Latin America, especially during colonial times. They held authority within communities, often overseeing social, political, and economic aspects. The term originally described indigenous chiefs but later referred to influential local elites or landowners who wielded power and control, sometimes overlapping with colonial authorities. Caciques played a key role in maintaining social order, organizing local affairs, and influencing broader regional policies, making them significant figures in the history of Latin American governance and societal structure.