Calfucurá facts for kids

Calfucurá (which means 'blue stone' in the Mapudungun language) was a very important leader of the Mapuche people in the 1800s. He was also known as Juan Calfucurá or Cufulcurá. He was a powerful military leader, or lonco, in a region called Patagonia.

Calfucurá moved across the Andes mountains from Araucania to the Pampas around 1830. He was asked by the governor of Buenos Aires, Juan Manuel de Rosas, to help fight another tribe called the Boroanos. Calfucurá ended the Boroanos' power in 1834. He did this by defeating many of them during a trade meeting.

After this victory, Calfucurá settled in the Salinas Grandes area. Many other native groups joined him there. He built a strong network of power. This network reached into the Araucanía Region and the southern Argentine Pampas. His power grew through sharing goods, building family ties, and trading. He also formed diplomatic relationships with both the State of Buenos Aires and the Argentine Confederation.

In 1859, Calfucurá led about 3,000 warriors to attack Bahía Blanca in Argentina. Later, in 1872, Calfucurá and his 6,000 followers attacked the cities of General Alvear, Veinticinco de Mayo, and Nueve de Julio. During this attack, many people were killed. They also took 200,000 heads of cattle. This event likely led to the decision to plan and carry out the Conquest of the Desert.

The Blue Stone and its Legends

The name Calfucurá means 'blue stone' in the Mapuche language. Juan Calfucurá was given this name because of a special blue stone he found as a boy. He kept and honored this stone for his entire life.

Calfucurá's grandson, Alfredo Namuncurá, once spoke about this stone. He said:

"The most precious thing that we still keep as a family in our tribe is the famous Blue Stone. My grandfather Calfucurá found it on the shores of a lake in Chile when he was young. This discovery led to his name, Calfucurá, which means blue stone. He always carried it with him. He believed it held the destiny and future of himself and his whole tribe. My father, Manuel Namuncurá, inherited this Blue Stone. As long as we kept it with respect, we were lucky and successful. I inherited it after my brother Julián died, when I took command of the tribe. Now we keep it in a chest with my father's two swords."

Many legends surround the Blue Stone. Some people believe a spirit gave it to Juan Calfucurá. They also say the stone made him unbeatable. It is even said that his enemies were afraid of it.

See also

In Spanish: Calfucurá para niños