Anganamón facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anganamón
Anganamón (cropped)
Rank	Toqui
Battles/wars	Battle of Curalaba

Anganamón, also known as Ancanamon or Ancanamun, was an important war leader of the Mapuche people. He lived in the late 1500s and early 1600s. He was a Toqui, which means a top war chief, from 1612 to 1613. Anganamón was known for a smart military idea: he trained his foot soldiers to ride horses. This helped them move as fast as his cavalry (soldiers on horseback).

Key Battles and Strategies

Anganamón is believed to have fought in the Battle of Curalaba. This important battle happened on December 23, 1598. During this fight, the Governor of Chile, Martín García Oñez de Loyola, was killed.

In April 1599, Anganamón led an attack on Boroa, a place near La Imperial. In this attack, six Spanish soldiers and their local helpers were killed. Later, in late 1609, Anganamón, along with other Mapuche leaders like Pelantaro and Aillavilú, fought a big battle. They faced the troops of Governor Alonso García de Ramón. Governor Ramón won this battle, but it was a very difficult fight for his side.

The Defensive War and Later Years

Within two years, a new Spanish plan for the war began. It was called the "Defensive War". This idea came from a Jesuit priest named Luis de Valdivia. He believed this approach could finally end the long war with the Mapuche. At this time, Anganamón was the Toqui.

However, Valdivia's plan to end the war did not succeed. This was mainly due to an event in December 1612, known as the Martyrdom of Elicura. In this event, Anganamón's men killed two priests, Horacio Vechi and Diego de Montalvan. These priests were messengers from Valdivia to the Mapuche. This act was done as revenge. The Spanish had not returned Anganamón's two wives and two daughters, who had escaped to Spanish territory.

See also

In Spanish: Anganamón para niños