| Native Name: | Departamento de Cuzco |
| Conventional Long Name: | Department of Cuzco |
| Subdivision: | Department |
| Nation: | South Peru |
| Capital: | Cuzco |
| Year Start: | 1836 |
| Year End: | 1839 |
| Era: | Confederation |
| Image Map Caption: | Cuzco within South Peru |
| P1: | Department of CuzcoCuzco Department |
| Flag P1: | Flag of Peru (1825–1884).svg |
| S1: | Department of CuzcoCuzco Department |
| Flag S1: | Flag of Peru (1825–1884).svg |
| Membership Title1: | Constituent country |
| Membership1: | South Peru |
The Department of Cuzco (Spanish; Castilian: Departamento de Cuzco) was a department of South Peru, a constituent country of the Peru–Bolivian Confederation, which existed from 1836 to 1839. Created alongside the confederate state, its capital was Cuzco.
Cuzco sent deputies to the Sicuani Assembly of March 1836,[1] where the Constitution of the Southern Peruvian State was drafted under the guidance of the then rebel politician in the midst of the Peruvian civil war since 1835.[1] The constitution proclaimed the state of South Peru and the alliance with the Bolivian occupation forces for the creation of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation.[2]
With Piérola's victory, the Fundamental Law of 1837 in Tacna, with approval of the self-proclaimed supreme protector Andrés de Santa Cruz, recognized Cuzco as a founding department of the Confederation.[2] The General Government of the Confederation minimized the territorial dispute between the then Peruvian Republic and Bolivia.[1]
Cuzco was subject to the General Government, which minimised its territorial disputes. Its governor was appointed by the president of the State, and this in turn was appointed by the supreme protector on duty.[2] The governor was obliged to elect representatives of his department to participate in the assemblies of Sicuani, which were ordered by the president of the South Peruvian State.[2]