Caterina Busco: Her life as told by Tomás Bartolome de Toledo Late Archbishop of the Andean Nation of San Cristo

In the postcolonial Andean nation of San Cristo, the hegemony of the ruling Five Families went unchecked for centuries. These “Great Ones” presided over a corrupt system of caste and exploitation that preserved the Families’ power and privilege, freeing them to impoverish and prey upon the indigenous Inca and mixed-race mestizos. Among the rich elite, Miguel Busto, “the Good One,” was that rare exception, a just, compassionate man. Like her father, Miguel’s vibrant, clear-eyed, open-hearted daughter was an anomaly, a Great One who spoke the language of the Inca, walked among them, and won their hearts. Caterina Busco — rebel leader, healing goddess, passionate lover — reshaped her country and gave birth to a legend.