The Battle of Río Bueno in 1759 was a military engagement between Spanish colonial forces and local

Huilliche The Huilliche (), Huiliche or Huilliche-Mapuche are the southern partiality of the Mapuche macroethnic group in Chile and Argentina. Located in the Zona Sur, they inhabit both Futahuillimapu ("great land of the south") and, as the Cunco or Ve ...

in the

Bueno River The Bueno River (Spanish: ''Río Bueno'') is a river in southern Chile. It originates in Ranco Lake and like most of Chile rivers it drains into the Pacific Ocean at the southern boundary of the Valdivian Coastal Reserve. Its lower flow forms t ...

of south-central Chile. The battle was fought on January 27 with the Spanish forces led by

Juan Antonio Garretón Juan Antonio Garretón (born in Aragón, Spain) was a Spanish army officer who served in different positions in Colonial Chile and Chiloé. Garretón led Spanish forces based in Valdivia to victory in the Battle of Río Bueno of 1759.Barros ...

.Barros Arana, 1886, p. 310. The battle of 1759 was an exception to the overall policy of befriending indigenous communities on behalf of the Spanish authorities in

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 ...

. Beginning in the mid-18th century the Spanish enclave of

started a period of

agricultural expansion Agricultural expansion describes the growth of agricultural land ( arable land, pastures, etc.) especially in the 20th and 21st centuries. The agricultural expansion is often explained as a direct consequence of the global increase in food and e ...

. The expansion was mainly directed to the south and was done mostly by pacific means, but hostilities with indigenous Huilliches did occur. In 1758 Huilliche chief Huarán requested Spanish soldiers to defend his lands against his Cunco enemies.Rumian Cisterna 2000, p. 103. The Governor of Valdivia Ambrosio Sáes de Bustamante responded to this call leading to the Battle of Río Bueno in 1759.Rumian Cisterna 2000, p. 104. There are differing views on the outcome of this battle; according to

Diego Barros Arana Diego Jacinto Agustín Barros Arana (; August 16, 1830 – November 4, 1907) was a Chilean professor, legislator, minister and diplomat. He is considered the most important Chilean historian of the 19th century. His main work ''General History o ...

it was a Spanish victory, yet historian Salvador Rumian Cisterna considers that with the battle chiefs Catrillanca and Paidil managed to halt any further Spanish advance.Rumian Cisterna 2000, p. 104. After the battle captured Huilliches told the Spanish about the existence of uncontacted Spanish settlements further inside indigenous territory, envigorating belief among the populace of Valdivia about the legendary

City of the Caesars The City of the Caesars (Spanish Ciudad de los Césares), also variously known as ''City of Patagonia'', ''the Wandering City'', ''Trapalanda'' or ''Trapananda'', ''Lin Lin'' or ''Elelín'', is a mythical city of South America. It was supposedly ...

.Urbina Carrasco, 2009, p. 174. Ignacio Pinuer, a staunch believer in the existence of the city, was present in the battle of Río Bueno claiming "the Caesars" participated in the "Christian" side by attacking the indigenous rearguard at night, securing thus a Spanish victory.Urbina Carrasco, 2009, p. 181.

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Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rio Bueno, Battle of Conflicts in 1759 Battle of Rio Bueno Battle of Rio Bueno Battle of Rio Bueno Battles involving Spain Battles of the Arauco War Battle of Rio Bueno Battle of Rio Bueno