Illangulién facts for kids

Illangulién, also known as Quiromanite, Queupulien, or Antiguenu, was an important Mapuche leader. The Mapuche people lived in what is now Chile. Illangulién was a toqui, which means a war leader. He was chosen in 1559 after the Battle of Quiapo. He became leader after Lemucaguin (also called Caupolicán the younger) died. Illangulién himself died in battle during the Battle of Angol in 1564.

Rise to Leadership

After the Battle of Quiapo, the Mapuche people faced tough times. Many warriors had died or were hurt. War, hunger, and sickness had greatly reduced their numbers.

The remaining Mapuche leaders chose Illangulién as their new toqui. He made a smart decision. He told his people to pretend to surrender to the Spanish. Meanwhile, he and a small group of warriors secretly went into the Lumaco marshes.

In the marshes, they built a hidden base. Their goal was to regain their strength. They also trained a new generation of warriors there. They planned for a future uprising against the Spanish.

Leading the Fight

In July 1561, a new Mapuche uprising began. This was triggered by the killing of Pedro de Avendaño. He was a Spanish encomendero, a person who controlled Mapuche labor and land.

After several years of hiding, Illangulién began to lead his forces. They started raiding Spanish lands. This helped his newly trained warriors gain experience. It also allowed them to live off the enemy's supplies.

Illangulién's forces fought against the Spanish Governor Francisco de Villagra. They defeated the Spanish several times over the next few years.

Battle of Angol

After Francisco de Villagra died, Illangulién's forces fought his replacement, Pedro de Villagra. The fighting took place around the city of San Andrés de Los Infantes.

During the Battle of Angol in 1564, Illangulién showed his skill. He faced the Spanish commander, Lorenzo Bernal del Mercado. Illangulién set up strong forts to block the town. He moved his blockade closer and closer to the city.

However, the Spanish commander found a weakness. He caught a part of Illangulién's army in a difficult spot. They were along the bank of a nearby river. The Spanish pushed them down a steep slope into the river. More than a thousand Mapuche warriors died, including the toqui Illangulién.

Sources

• Juan Ignacio Molina, The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili, Volume II , Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, Paternoster-Row, London, 1809
• Alonso de Góngora Marmolejo,Historia de Todas las Cosas que han Acaecido en el Reino de Chile y de los que lo han gobernado (1536-1575) (History of All the Things that Have happened in the Kingdom of Chile and of those that have governed it (1536-1575)), Edición digital a partir de Crónicas del Reino de Chile, Madrid, Atlas, 1960, pp. 75–224, (on line in Spanish)
• Diego de Rosales, “Historia General del Reino de Chile”, Flandes Indiano, 3 tomos. Valparaíso 1877 - 1878.
  • Historia general de el Reino de Chile: Flandes Indiano, Tomo II (1554-1625)

See also

In Spanish: Illangulién para niños