Battle of Mataquito facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Mataquito
Part of the Arauco War
Date April 30, 1557 Location Near the Mataquito River in what is now Hualañé, Chile Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire	Mapuche
Commanders and leaders
Francisco de Villagra	Lautaro  †
Strength
120 Spanish soldiers and many indios amigos (friendly indigenous people)	700 Mapuche and 500 allied warriors
Casualties and losses
1 Spaniard, over half of the indios amigos	250 – 500 Mapuche

The Battle of Mataquito was an important fight in the Arauco War. It happened on April 30, 1557. The battle was between the Spanish forces, led by Governor Francisco de Villagra, and the Mapuche people, led by their brave leader, Lautaro.

The Spanish launched a surprise attack at dawn. They found Lautaro's camp between a wooded mountain and the Mataquito River. This battle was a big deal because it stopped the Mapuche from trying to kick the Spanish out of Santiago. It also got revenge for the death of a past Spanish governor, Pedro de Valdivia. Lautaro's warriors had killed him four years earlier in the Battle of Tucapel.

Preparing for Battle

In early 1557, Lautaro had lost a battle at Battle of Peteroa and had to retreat. After this, Francisco de Villagra felt strong. He gathered many soldiers and marched south. His goal was to help Spanish cities that the Mapuche were attacking.

Lautaro, however, was very clever. He realized that Santiago was now less protected. So, he let Villagra's army pass by heading south. Lautaro then marched towards Santiago again. He gathered a new army of 6,000 men. Other allies joined him, bringing his total force to about 10,000 warriors.

A Change of Plans

When Lautaro's army reached the Mataquito River, things changed. Lautaro had treated the local indigenous people badly. This was similar to how the Spanish sometimes treated them. Because of this, he made many enemies. After an argument with one of his allies about this mistreatment, many allies and even some Mapuche warriors refused to follow him.

Lautaro moved his camp about a league (a few miles) upriver from Lora. He set up a strong, fortified camp in a place called Mataquito.

The Surprise Attack

Villagra soon found out where Lautaro's camp was. Local indigenous people, who Lautaro had treated badly, told him. Villagra quickly sent a message to Juan Godíñez near Santiago. He told Godíñez to meet him. Villagra then hurried back from the south with seventy men.

The Spanish forces met in a place called Gualemo. It was about three leagues from Lautaro's camp. Lautaro was not warned by the local people. Villagra and Godíñez now had 120 men in total. This included 57 horsemen, five soldiers with arquebuses (early guns), and over four hundred yanakuna (indigenous allies).

The Dawn Raid

The Spanish made a secret night march. They went over the hills of Caune. They reached the hill overlooking Lautaro's camp by the Mataquito River. Villagra sent some Spanish foot soldiers into a thick reed bed. These soldiers had arquebuses or swords and shields.

At dawn, Villagra launched his surprise attack. The foot soldiers burst into the Mapuche fortress. Juan Godíñez and Villagra led the cavalry charge down the hill. Their indigenous allies went ahead of them.

The Battle's End

At the very start of the battle, Lautaro was killed. He was coming out of the doorway of his ruca (traditional home). When the Spanish shouted that Lautaro was dead, the allied warriors from Itata, Ñuble, and Renoguelen fled. They ran away as fast as they could.

Only Lautaro's own Mapuche warriors kept fighting. They fought for six hours. Even though their leader was dead, they put up a very strong fight. By the end of the battle, Lautaro and between 250 to 500 Mapuche warriors were killed. The Spanish lost one soldier, Juan de Villagra. More than half of their yanakuna were killed or hurt. Many of the Spanish horses were also lost.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Mataquito para niños