Jesús de Huenuraquí facts for kids

Jesús de Huenuraquí was an old Spanish fort. It was built on a high area north of the Biobío River in Chile. Today, it's near the Huenuraquí train station in the area called San Rosendo. The fort was about eight kilometers west of San Rosendo and ten kilometers south of the town of Rere, Chile.

What Was Fort Jesús de Huenuraquí?

Fort Jesús was an important military base for the Spanish. It was built to help protect their control over the land. The fort played a part in the history of the region, especially during times of conflict.

Why Was the Fort Built?

The fort was first built in 1593 by a Spanish leader named Martín García Óñez de Loyola. He was the Royal Governor of Chile, which means he was the main ruler for the King of Spain in Chile. At the same time, another fort called Chivicura was built across the Biobío River. Both forts were made to keep communication lines open for the city of Santa Cruz de Coya. This city was in a region called Catirai.

How Was the Fort Destroyed and Rebuilt?

Sadly, both Fort Jesús and the city of Santa Cruz de Coya were destroyed in 1599. This happened during a conflict with the Moluche people, who are a group of the Mapuche indigenous people.

However, the fort was important, so it was rebuilt a few years later. In 1602, another Spanish leader, Alonso de Ribera, rebuilt it. This time, it was called Fuerte de Huenuraquí. It became part of a system of forts in an area known as La Frontera, which means "The Frontier."

What Does "Huenuraquí" Mean?

The name "Huenuraquí" comes from the Mapudungun language, which is spoken by the Mapuche people. The word huenu means "above" or "up high." The word raqui is the sound the Moluche people used for a bird's voice. This bird is called a bandurria in Chile, which is also known as the black-faced ibis. So, the name might mean something like "the sound of the bandurria from above."

See also

In Spanish: Fuerte Jesús de Huenuraquí para niños