La Frontera (Chile) facts for kids
La Frontera is a special name used in Chile. It means "The Frontier" or "The Border." It refers to the area around the Bío Bío River. Sometimes, it means the whole region between the Bío Bío River and the Toltén River. This larger area is also known as the historic Araucanía.
The name "La Frontera" came about when this region was the border of the Captaincy General of Chile. This was a part of the Spanish Empire, and later, the Republic of Chile. The border was with the Mapuche people who lived in Araucanía. They had a big uprising in 1598 during the Arauco War. After this, the Spanish Empire built many forts. These forts were mostly between the Bío Bío River and the Itata River. Some were also built deeper into Araucanía. This system of forts was important for over 200 years, lasting through the 18th and into the 19th century.
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Forts and Settlements of La Frontera
After the Mapuche uprising in 1598, many Spanish forts and cities were destroyed. These included forts in Catirai and the city of Santa Cruz de Coya. The cities of Santa María la Blanca de Valdivia, San Andrés de Los Infantes, and San Bartolomé de Chillán y Gamboa were also ruined. The first fort rebuilt was in Chillán by Governor Francisco de Quiñónez.
17th Century Forts
In 1601, Governor Alonso de Ribera began building new forts. He built Fort Talcahuano to protect Spanish settlements near Concepción. He also built Fort Lonquén to keep food supplies safe for the army.
In 1602, Ribera rebuilt small forts like Fort Colcura and Fort Guanaraque. He also built a new fort called Santa Fe near where the Bio Bio and Vergara Rivers meet. On the coast, Captain Francisco Hernández Ortiz tried to build a fort at Valdivia. But after a long siege, the soldiers ran out of food and had to leave.
By 1603, Ribera built more important forts. These included Fort Chepe and Fort San Pedro. These forts helped control the crossing at the mouth of the Bio Bio River. He also rebuilt San Felipe de Araucan and Santa Margarita de Austria on the coast. Further inland, he built forts at Tucapel and Paicavi. To the east, along the Bio Bio River, he rebuilt Santa Lucia de Yumbel. He also built new forts like Nuestra Señora de la Buena Esperanza, San Rosendo, Nuestra de Senora de Halle, Nacimiento de Nuestro Señor, and San Francisco de Borja. Meanwhile, Spanish refugees from Osorno built Fort Calbuco further south.
In 1606, Alonso García de Ramón built Fort San Ignacio de la Redención near Boroa. However, it was soon abandoned after most of its soldiers were attacked.
In 1607, García de Ramón rebuilt Fort Purén and San Jerónimo de Millapoa. But he soon took down the latter fort because of a peace agreement with the Mapuche people of Catirai.
In 1611, Luis Merlo de la Fuente built fort San Luis de Angol a bit south of the old city of Angol.
In 1613, Alonso de Ribera built Fort Virguenco and rebuilt the fort at Puren again.
In 1621, Cristóbal de la Cerda y Sotomayor rebuilt the fort of Yumbel after it was destroyed. He also built fort San Cristóbal de La Paz and strengthened the town around the fort San Bartolomé de Chillán.
In 1622, Pedro Osores de Ulloa built Fort Negrete.
On March 8, 1626, Luis Fernandez de Cordova established Santa Juana de Guadalcazar.
In 1637, Francisco Laso de la Vega built fort San Francisco de la Vega near the ruined city of Angol. He then abandoned fort San Luis de Angol.
By 1641, all Spanish forts south of the Bio Bio River were left empty. This happened because of a peace treaty called the Peace of Quilín.
In 1647, Martín de Mujica y Buitrón was able to rebuild forts at Valdivia, Santa Juana (in 1648), and at Boroa (in 1649). This was also thanks to a peace agreement.
In 1657, Pedro Porter Casanate rebuilt the city of San Bartolomé de Chillán after it was destroyed in a Mapuche uprising. He also built forts San Rafael de Coelemu and San Fabián de Conueo northeast of Concepcion. At the same time, Captain Alonso de Cordova y Figueroa built Fort Tolpán.
In 1661, Governor Porter Casanate built fort San Miguel Arcángel de Colcura near modern Lota. He also built a fort at Talcamávida.
In 1662, Ángel de Peredo established a new city called Santa Maria de Guadalupe. He also helped people move back to Arauco, which had been lost in 1655.
In 1663, Peredo rebuilt fort San Cristóbal de La Paz.
In 1665, Francisco de Meneses Brito established fort San Carlos de Virhuenco. He also rebuilt forts Nacimiento de Nuestro Señor and Puren.
In 1666, Meneses built fort Santa Fe and Fort de la Encarnación in Repucura. He also rebuilt San Carlos de Austria de Yumbel.
In 1693, Tomás Marín de Poveda rebuilt fort Buena Esperanza de Rere.
In 1694, Marín de Poveda restored Fort de la Encarnación and a Mission in Repucura.
In 1695, Marín de Poveda built fort Santo Tomás de Colhué.
18th Century Forts
In 1724, Gabriel Cano de Aponte rebuilt forts Nacimiento, Santa Juana de Guadalcázar, and Santo Tomás de Colhué. He moved the soldiers and people from Plaza de San Diego de Tucapel to a new fort with the same name, built near the Andes.
In 1739, José Antonio Manso de Velasco founded fort Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles.
In 1749, fort Nacimiento was moved to where the modern town of Nacimiento is today.
In 1756, Manuel de Amat y Juniet founded fort Santa Bárbara. He also established the towns of San Rafael de Talcamavida and San Juan Bautista de Gualqui.
In 1757, Amat y Juniet made Nacimiento a town.
In 1764, Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga established Fort Repucura and a mission there again.
In 1777, the military engineer Ambrosio O' Higgins built a fort called San Agustín de Mesamávida for Agustín de Jáuregui y Aldecoa.
In 1788, Governor Ambrosio O'Higgins built Fort Príncipe Carlos on the Duqueco River.
In 1792, Governor Ambrosio O'Higgins's forces, led by Tomás de Figueroa, took over the ruined site of Osorno. They built a fort there. O'Higgins then re-established Osorno as a city in 1796.
See also
In Spanish: La Frontera (Chile) para niños
Sources
- Diego de Rosales, Historia General del Reino de Chile, Flandes Indiano, 3 tomos. Valparaíso 1877–1878.
- Historia general de el Reyno de Chile: Flandes Indiano Vol. 2 Libro V La Ruina de las Siete Ciudades
- Crescente Errázuriz, Seis años de la historia de Chile: 23 de diciembre de 1598- 9 de abril de 1605: memoria histórica, Impr. Nacional, Sanitiago de Chile, 1881.
- Atlas de Historia de Chile, Editorial Universitaria, ISBN: 956-11-1776-2 pp. 54–55
- Francisco Solano Asta-Buruaga y Cienfuegos, Diccionario geográfico de la República de Chile, D. Appleton y Compania, Nueva York, 1899
