Banditry in Chile facts for kids

Banditry, or bandidaje in Spanish, was a big problem in Central Chile and Araucanía during the 1800s and early 1900s. Bandits were like outlaws who robbed people and places. Some became famous for being very mean, while others were seen as heroes by some people.

These bandits often attacked large farms called haciendas and the workers who lived there, known as inquilinos.

The Chilean War of Independence (1810–1826) made banditry much worse. After the main war, a very destructive period called Guerra a muerte (1819–1821) happened, especially in the Biobío area. Even after this period ended, outlaws continued to cause trouble until the late 1820s.

Traveling became very dangerous. By 1812, it was no longer safe for small groups to travel between Concepción and Santiago. A famous group of royalist outlaws, the Pincheira brothers, operated east of the Andes. They were finally defeated in 1832.

The famous writer Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna once said that banditry was like a "national plague." It was a huge problem for the country.

After Chile won the War of the Pacific against Peru, soldiers started coming home in 1881. This led to a big increase in banditry. At the same time, the Chilean Army was ending the Mapuche people's resistance during the Occupation of Araucanía (1861–1883).

This opened up new areas in Araucanía. Many bandits and former soldiers who became bandits moved there. This caused a sudden rise in violence in a region that was just recovering from war. Bandits in Araucanía often teamed up with displaced Mapuche people. Their main business was stealing cattle, which they then sold in local markets.

Because of this, Araucanía remained a dangerous place for many years. Attacks and robberies were very common. So, until the 1920s, many homes in Araucanía had carbines, revolvers, and other firearms for protection.

Banditry in Araucanía and Central Chile began to be controlled in the late 1800s. This happened when a rural police force called the Cuerpo de Gendarmes para las Colonias was created. This group was a early version of Chile's main police force today, the Carabineros de Chile. Hernán Trizano led this police force until 1905.

Famous Bandits

Independence Era Bandits

• José Miguel Neira, who led a group called Los Neirinos. They supported the patriots.
• Pincheira brothers, a group who supported the Spanish king (royalists).

Bandits from 1835–1900

• Juan de Dios López
• The Mendoza brothers
• Ciriaco Contreras
• Pancho Falcato

See also

In Spanish: Bandidaje en Chile para niños