Spanish Chileans refer more often to Chileans of post-independence Spanish immigrant descent, as they have retained a Spanish cultural identity. People of pre-independence Spanish descent are usually not considered Spanish Chileans even though they form a large majority of the Chilean population and have Spanish surnames and ancestry. This is because they rejected Spanish identity for the emergent Chilean one on the eve of national independence.

History

The earliest

European immigrants European emigration is the successive emigration waves from the European continent to other continents. The origins of the various European diasporas can be traced to the people who left the European nation states or stateless ethnic communities ...

were Spanish colonisers who arrived in the 16th century. They came to form the majority of the population by the time of Chilean independence. They came mainly from Castile and

Andalusia Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a ...

and formed the majority population. The Amerindian population of central Chile was absorbed into the Spanish settler population in the beginning of the colonial period to form the large

mestizo (; ; fem. ) is a term used for racial classification to refer to a person of mixed Ethnic groups in Europe, European and Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous American ancestry. In certain regions such as Latin America, it may also r ...

population that exists in Chile today; mestizos create modern middle and lower classes. In the 18th and 19th centuries, many

Basques The Basques ( or ; eu, euskaldunak ; es, vascos ; french: basques ) are a Southwestern European ethnic group, characterised by the Basque language, a common culture and shared genetic ancestry to the ancient Vascones and Aquitanians. Bas ...

from both

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

came to

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

where they integrated into the existing elites of Castilian origin.Diariovasco.
/ref>entrevista al Presidente de la Cámara vasca.
Other European nationalities then followed and also became rich and fused with each other and the Basque-Castilian elite to create modern middle and upper classes. At the beginning of the Guano era in 1840s, one of Peru's most prosperous time periods, immigration from Spain greatly increased and the economy was booming and standard of living was high. This era ended in 1866 with the Chincha Islands War wherein anti-Spanish sentiments in Peru also arose in Chile and in which Peru emerged victorious. In 1903, a fleet of 88

Canarian Canary Islanders, or Canarians ( es, canarios), are a Romance people and ethnic group. They reside on the Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain near the coast of northwest Africa, and descend from a mixture of European settlers and abor ...

families—400 persons—arrived in

Budi Lake Budi Lake ( es, Lago Budi, ) from the Mapudungun word ''Füzi'' which means salt, is a tidal brackish water lake located near the coast of La Araucanía Region, southern Chile. The lake is part of the boundaries between Saavedra and Teodoro Sc ...

, Chile, that currently have more than 1,000 descendants, as a response to the government's call to populate this region and signed contracts for the benefit of a private company. While many Canarians obeyed their servitude, some of those who disobeyed the provisions of repopulation tried to escape their servitude and were arrested, and the indigenous

Mapuche The Mapuche ( (Mapuche & Spanish: )) are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, including parts of Patagonia. The collective term refers to a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who sha ...

people took pity on the plight of these Canarians who were established on their former lands. The Mapuches welcomed them and joined their demonstrations in the so-called "revolt of the Canarians", and many Canarians integrated into Mapuche population to add the large mestizo population that exists in Chile.Archipiélago noticias. Canarios en Chile
(in Spanish: Canarians in Chile). Posted Luis León Barreto. Retrieved December 21, 2011, to 23:52 pm. In the 20th century, there was an influx of refugees of the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...

and Franco's regime.(see Winnipeg ship) They have kept their Spanish national identity and set up Spanish clubs throughout the country. The

Spanish culture The culture of ''Spain'' is based on a variety of historical influences, primarily based on the culture of ancient Rome, Spain being a prominent part of the Greco-Roman world for centuries, the very name of Spain comes from the name that the Rom ...

of the original settlers slowly evolved into Chilean folk culture, especially the

huaso A huaso () is a Chilean countryman and skilled horseman, similar to the United States, American cowboy, the Mexico, Mexican charro (and its northern equivalent, the vaquero), the gaucho of Argentina, Uruguay and Rio Grande Do Sul, and the Austr ...

one, and at the time of independence had abandoned national affiliation with Spain.

Spanish architecture in Chile

Today, most Chileans have predominantly Spanish/Basque ancestry. However, unlike most other Spanish-American countries, very few buildings were built by Spaniards during the colonial period. One or two colonial buildings from the later stage of Spanish domination might still be standing in a few cities in central Chile. However, there are two small towns in Chile whose city centre is dominated by Spanish architecture, Cobquecura, near Concepcion, and

Yerbas Buenas Yerbas Buenas is a Chilean town and commune in Linares Province, Maule Region. It lies in the geographical center of the country, on the fertile central plain, some south of the national capital of Santiago, south of Talca, the regional capita ...

, near Linares. Because of this exception to the rule, they are protected by the Chilean government as 'places of architectural heritage'. Most houses are American in style, while the old public buildings are French and the newer ones are based on American skycrapers.

Notable Spanish Chileans

* Isabel Allende, writer * Alejandro Amenábar,

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

Manuel Blanco Encalada Manuel José Blanco y Calvo de Encalada (; April 21, 1790 – September 5, 1876) was a vice-admiral in the Chilean Navy, a political figure, and Chile's first President (Provisional) (1826). Biography Born in Buenos Aires which was the capital ...

, 1st (provisional)

President of Chile The president of Chile ( es, Presidente de Chile), officially known as the President of the Republic of Chile ( es, Presidente de la República de Chile), is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Chile. The president is re ...

(1826), Vice-Admiral in the Chilean Navy *

Matías Cousiño Matías Cousiño Jorquera (1810–1863) was a Chilean coal magnate and patriarch of the wealthy Cousiño family. Cousiño's most emblematic coal mine was found in Lota a small coastal town on the coast of the Bío-Bío Region, where steam ships ...

coal Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal is formed when dea ...

magnate The magnate term, from the late Latin ''magnas'', a great man, itself from Latin ''magnus'', "great", means a man from the higher nobility, a man who belongs to the high office-holders, or a man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or ot ...

and patriarch of the Cousiño family * Carlos Díaz, television and film actor *

Javiera Díaz de Valdés Javiera Díaz de Valdés Alemparte (born 30 June 1981 in Santiago), is a Chilean television actress best known for her role in the telenovela "Gatas y Tuercas". Javiera is a descendant of Javiera Carrera, a Chilean patriot of Basque descent, mar ...

, actress * Karen Doggenweiler Lapuente, journalist, TV hostess * Roberto Matta,

abstract expressionist Abstract expressionism is a post–World War II art movement in American painting, developed in New York City in the 1940s. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve international influence and put New York at the center of the ...

and surrealist

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...

Jorge Montt Jorge Montt Álvarez (; April 26, 1845 – October 8, 1922) was a vice admiral in the Chilean Navy and president of Chile from 1891 to 1896.L.S. Rowe, "Passing of a Great Figure in Chilean History." ''Bulletin Pan American Union'' 55 (1922): ...

, 12th

president of Chile The president of Chile ( es, Presidente de Chile), officially known as the President of the Republic of Chile ( es, Presidente de la República de Chile), is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Chile. The president is re ...

(1891–1896), vice-admiral of the Chilean navy *

Carlos Pezoa Véliz Carlos Pezoa Véliz (July 21, 1879 – April 21, 1908) was a poet, educator and journalist from Chile. His literary work remained largely unpublished until his death at the age of 28. He was posthumously recognized as a major figure in the histor ...

, writer * José Piñera, businessman and politician * Sebastián Piñera, businessman and President of Chile (2010-2014 and 2018-2022) *

Arturo Prat Agustín Arturo Prat Chacón (; April 3, 1848 – May 21, 1879) was a Chilean lawyer and navy officer. He was killed in the Battle of Iquique, during the War of the Pacific. During his career, Prat had taken part in several naval engagements, ...

, Navy officer and national hero * Carlos Prats, Former Army Commander in Chief * José Joaquín Prieto, Army General and President of Chile (1831-1841) * Germán Riesco, President of Chile (1901-1906) *

Carolina Tohá Carolina Montserrat Tohá Morales (born 12 May 1965) is a Chilean political scientist and politician from the Party for Democracy (''Partido por la Democracia'', PPD), currently serving as Minister of the Interior and Public Security. She was p ...

, politician *

José Tohá José Tohá González (February 6, 1927 – March 15, 1974) was a Chilean journalist, lawyer, and politician of the Socialist Party (PS). Biography Tohá was born in Chillán, the son of Spanish immigrant José Tohá Soldavilla and of Brunilda Go ...

, politician *

Leonor Varela Leonor Magdalena Varela Palma (; born 29 December 1972) is a Chilean actress. She played the Cleopatra, title role in the 1999 television film ''Cleopatra (1999 film), Cleopatra'', and vampire princess Nyssa Damaskinos in the 2002 Marvel Comics ...

, actress

List of Spanish cultural centres and other institutions in Chile

They have regional cultural centres in Santiago and other large cities. * 7ª. Cía. de Bomberos "Bomba España", Antofagasta * Centro Español de Antofagasta * Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Antofagasta * Centro Español, Arica * Estadio Español de

Chiguayante Chiguayante () is a Chilean city and commune in Concepción Province, Biobío Region. It is part of Greater Concepción. Demographics According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Chiguayante spans an area of and has 81,30 ...

* Centro Español de

Chillán Chillán () is the capital city of the Ñuble Region in the Diguillín Province of Chile located about south of the country's capital, Santiago, near the geographical center of the country. It is the capital of the new Ñuble Region since 6 Sept ...

* Hogar Español de Chillán * Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Chillán * Centro Español de Concepción * Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Concepción * Colectividad Española, Coquimbo * Corporación Unión Española de

Coyhaique Coyhaique (), also spelled Coihaique in Patagonia, is the Capital (political), capital List of cities in Chile, city of both the Coyhaique Province and the Aysén Region of Chile. Founded by settlers in 1929, it is a young city. Until the twentiet ...

* Centro Español de Curicó * Club Deportivo Español de Curicó * Estadio Español de Curicó * Sociedad de Damas del Pilar de Curicó * Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Curicó * Casino Español de Iquique * Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, Iquique * Sociedad Española de Beneficencia,

Las Condes Las Condes is a commune of Chile located in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. The area is inhabited primarily by upper-mid- to high income families, and known in the Chilean collective consciousness as home to the country's economi ...

* Estadio Español de Linares * Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, Linares * Centro Español de Los Andes * Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, Los Andes * Centro Español de Los Ángeles * Club Deportivo Español de Osorno * Sociedad Española de SS.MM. de Osorno * Colectividad Valenciana de Chile Providencia * Instituto Chileno de Cultura Hispánica, Providencia * Centro Español de

Puerto Montt Puerto Montt (Mapuche: Meli Pulli) is a port city and commune in southern Chile, located at the northern end of the Reloncaví Sound in the Llanquihue Province, Los Lagos Region, 1,055 km to the south of the capital, Santiago. The commune spa ...

* Centro Español de Puerto Natales * Sociedad Española de Punta Arenas * Centro Español de Rancagua * Corporación Club Español de Campo Reñaca- Viña * Centro Cultural Español

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= U.S. state, State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , s ...

* Centro Español de

San Fernando San Fernando may refer to: People *Ferdinand III of Castile (c. 1200–1252), called ''San Fernando'' (Spanish) or ''Saint Ferdinand'', King of Castile, León, and Galicia Places Argentina *San Fernando de la Buena Vista, city of Greater Buenos ...

* Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, San Fernando * 10a. Cía. de Bomberos "Bomba España",

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, whose ...

Camara Oficial Española de Comercio de Chile

Centro Navarro de Chile
Santiago * Círculo de Profesionales Hispánicos, Santiago * Círculo Español, Santiago * Colectividad Andaluza de Chile, Santiago * Colectividad Asturiana de Chile, Santiago
Colectividad Castellano-Leonesa de Chile
Santiago * Colectividad Madrileña de Chile, Santiago * Comité de Damas de A.I.E.CH., Santiago * Confederación de Bombas Españolas en Chile, Santiago * Coolectividad Aragonesa de Chile, Santiago * Estadio Español de Las Condes * Hogar Español, Santiago * Lar Gallego, Santiago * Sociedad Benéfica La Rioja, Santiago * Sociedad Española de Socorros Mutuos y Beneficencia, Santiago * Unión Española, Santiago * Agrupación Winnipeg, Santiago * Centre Català de Santiago de Xile, Santiago * Centro Vasco, Santiago * 5a. Cía de Bomberos Bomba España de

Talca Talca () is a List of cities in Chile, city and Communes of Chile, commune in Chile located about south of Santiago, Chile, Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region (7th Region of Chile). As of the 2012 census, the ...

* Centro Español de Talca * Club Deportivo Español de Talca * Escuela Especial España, Talca * Ropero Español de Talca * Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Talca * 4a. Cía. de Bomberos Bomba España, Temuco * Centro Español de Temuco * Sociedad Española de Beneficencia de Temuco * Centro Español de

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 ...

* 7a. Cía. de Bomberos Bomba España,

Valparaíso Valparaíso (; ) is a major city, seaport, naval base, and educational centre in the commune of Valparaíso, Chile. "Greater Valparaíso" is the second largest metropolitan area in the country. Valparaíso is located about northwest of Santiago ...

* Sociedad Española de Beneficencia, Valparaíso * Club Unión Española Valparaíso,

Viña del Mar Viña del Mar (; meaning "Vineyard of the Sea") is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Often referred to as ("The Garden City"), Viña del Mar is located within the Valparaíso Region, and it is Chile's fourth largest city w ...

* Soc. de Beneficencia Damas Españolas Viña del Mar

References

{{Spanish diaspora European Chilean Spanish diaspora in South America

History

Spanish architecture in Chile

Notable Spanish Chileans

List of Spanish cultural centres and other institutions in Chile

See also

References