Mapuche

The Mapuche are an indigenous people primarily located in modern-day Chile and Argentina. Currently, they are the largest native group in South America, but their story begins many years ago. Archeological evidence of the Mapuche civilization dates to the 5th century BCE. Pre-Spanish contact, the Mapuche were hunter-gatherers that practiced basic farming techniques for crops like maize, squash, and chili peppers. They resided in small communities in wooden longhouses called rukas, and organized their society under the cacique (chief).

The Mapuche are most famous for the Araucanian Wars, a 300 year struggle against the Spanish starting in 1541 CE. The Spanish were initially led by Pedro de Valdivia, who had fought in the Peruvian civil war with Francisco Pizarro before marching into northern Chile in 1540 CE, establishing the city of Santiago the following year. de Valdivia then marched further south, towards the Biobío River. This brought him into conflict with the leaders of the Mapuche, igniting the Araucanian Wars.

On the other side of the conflict was a Mapuche man named Lautaro, who had been kidnapped by the Spanish when he was young. Legend states that Lautaro was the personal page of Valdivia, but then escaped captivity and returned to his people with valuable knowledge: he had learned how to utilize cavalry and gunpowder in battle. Perhaps more importantly, he had learned that the Spanish were not gods: they could fall ill or die in the same way as the Mapuche. Armed with this information, Lautaro revolutionized Mapuche military strategy alongside the toqui (military chieftain) Caupolicán.

The Mapuche used cavalry for the first time in the Battle of Tucapel in 1553 CE, defeating the Spanish with a combination of military strategies and weapons. Along with typical arms like spears, bows and arrows, and the club, the Mapuche also utilized the bolas – originally a hunting tool comprised of two or three weighted stones on a cord – which they threw at their enemies to snare them. Elite young warriors called Konas were educated in physical combat and tribal history by the Weupife (the tribe historian). A high regard for the importance of tribal tradition and history still runs through the lifeblood of the Mapuche.

The Mapuche victory at Tucapel was one of many battles in the 300 year conflict between the Spanish and Mapuche, which saw several victories on both sides and lives vividly in Mapuche collective memory.