The Battle of Millarapue that occurred November 30, 1557 was intended by the
Toqui
Toqui (or Toki) ( Mapudungun for ''axe'' or ''axe-bearer'') is a title conferred by the Mapuche (an indigenous Chilean and Argentinian people) on those chosen as leaders during times of war. The toqui is chosen in an assembly or parliament ('' ...
Caupolicán
Caupolicán (meaning ‘polished flint’ (queupu) or ‘blue quartz stone’ (Kallfulikan) in Mapudungun) was a ''toqui'' or war leader of the Mapuche people, who led the resistance of his people against the Spanish Conquistadors who invaded the ...
as a Mapuche ambush of the
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
army of
García Hurtado de Mendoza
García or Garcia may refer to:
People
* García (surname)
* Kings of Pamplona/Navarre
** García Íñiguez of Pamplona, king of Pamplona 851/2–882
** García Sánchez I of Pamplona, king of Pamplona 931–970
** García Sánchez II of Pam ...
that resulted in a Spanish victory when the ambush failed.
History
After the victory of the Spanish arms in the
Battle of Lagunillas
The Battle of Lagunillas was a battle in the Arauco War on November 8, 1557, between the army of García Hurtado de Mendoza and the Mapuche army near some shallow lakes a league south of the Bio-Bio River.
History
In anticipation of Mendoza's ...
, Mendoza went into the hostile territory of
Arauco looking for a decisive battle. The Spanish royal forces encamped at
Millarapue
Melirupu is a place in Arauco Province that is 12 kilometers to the Southwest of Arauco in the direction of Quiapo. It was a small village of about 300 inhabitants in the late 19th century the surrounding land had the same name. The Mapudungun ...
on November 29. The Mapuche army under Caupolicán tried an ambush at dawn on November 30, attempting to surprise the enemy camp. That day was the day of San Andres celebrated among the Spaniards and a celebratory morning call of trumpets was interpreted by the Araucanians as an alarm. Believing their ambush detected Caupolicán ordered his army to advance to the attack. Leading some Mapuche warriors from the front was
Galvarino
Galvarino (died c. November 30, 1557) was a famous Mapuche warrior during the majority of the early part of the Arauco War. He fought and was taken prisoner along with one hundred and fifty other Mapuche, in the Battle of Lagunillas against gove ...
, with his handless arms urging on his comrades. The battle was brutal and fierce. The Battle of Millarapue lasted from dawn to early afternoon. Finally the Mapuches were defeated, losing 3,000 dead and 800 captured. Captured leaders were hanged, and Galvarino, captured again, was thrown to the dogs.
[Vivar, Crónica, Capítulo CXXXIII] Following the victory the Spanish advanced to
Tucapel
Tucapel is a List of towns in Chile, town and Communes of Chile, commune in the Bío Bío Province, Bío Bío Region, Chile. It was once a region of Araucanía (historic region), Araucanía named for the Tucapel River. The name of the region deri ...
and settled down to build the fort of
Cañete, not very far from where
Valdivia
Valdivia (; Mapuche: Ainil) is a city and commune in southern Chile, administered by the Municipality of Valdivia. The city is named after its founder Pedro de Valdivia and is located at the confluence of the Calle-Calle, Valdivia, and Cau-Cau R ...
's old fort of
Tucapel
Tucapel is a List of towns in Chile, town and Communes of Chile, commune in the Bío Bío Province, Bío Bío Region, Chile. It was once a region of Araucanía (historic region), Araucanía named for the Tucapel River. The name of the region deri ...
had been located.
Additional informations
References
Sources
*
Jerónimo de Vivar Jerónimo de Vivar was a Spanish historian of the early conquest and settlement of the Kingdom of Chile, and author of ''Crónica y relación copiosa y verdadera de los reinos de Chile''.
Little is known about his life except that according to his ...
Crónica y relación copiosa y verdadera de los reinos de Chile (Chronicle and abundant and true relation of the kingdoms of Chile)ARTEHISTORIA REVISTA DIGITAL; Crónicas de América (on line in Spanish)
** Capítulo CXXXIII Que trata de la salida del gobernador de la provincia de Arauco para la de Tucapel y lo que en este camino le sucedió
*
de Góngora Marmolejo, Alonsobr>
Historia de Todas las Cosas que han Acaecido en el Reino de Chile y de los que lo han gobernado (1536-1575) (History of All the Things that Have happened in the Kingdom of Chile and of those that have governed it (1536-1575)) Edición digital a partir de Crónicas del Reino de Chile, Madrid, Atlas, 1960, pp. 75–224, (Biblioteca de Autores Españoles ; 565-568).
*
*
Mariño de Lobera, Pedro,[http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/13582842323460728544424/index.htm Crónica del Reino de Chile , escrita por el capitán Pedro Mariño de Lobera....reducido a nuevo método y estilo por el Padre Bartolomé de Escobar. Edición digital a partir de Crónicas del Reino de Chile Madrid, Atlas, 1960, pp. 227-562, (Biblioteca de Autores Españoles ; 569-575).] Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes (on line in Spanish)
** Libro 2, Capítulo IV. De la entrada que el gobernador, don García de Mendoza, hizo en los estados de Arauco y la memorable batalla que tuvo con los indios en Millapoa
*
Diego de Rosales
Diego de Rosales (Madrid, 1601 - Santiago, 1677) was a Spanish chronicler and author of ''Historia General del Reino de Chile''.
He studied in his hometown, where he also joined the Society of Jesus. He came to Chile in the year 1629, without ha ...
, “Historia General del Reino de Chile”, Flandes Indiano, 3 tomos. Valparaíso 1877 - 1878.
*
Historia general de el Reyno de Chile: Flandes Indiano, Tomo II(1554–1625)
**
Capitulo XIV. Batalla que tubo Don Garcia con Caupolican y Turcupichun y insigne Victoria que alcanzó.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Millarapue, Battle Of
Battles involving Spain
Battles of the Arauco War
1557 in the Captaincy General of Chile
Conflicts in 1557