Malón facts for kids
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A malón was a type of raid carried out by Mapuche warriors, who were skilled horse riders. The word "malón" comes from the Mapudungun language, meaning "to inflict damage on the enemy." These raids happened from the 1600s to the late 1800s.
Mapuche warriors would ride into lands controlled by the Spanish, Chileans, and Argentines. They also sometimes attacked rival Mapuche groups. These raids were a way to get resources and, for some Mapuche, a way to seek justice for wrongs they felt had been done to them.
Contents
What Was a Malón?
A malón was a fast, surprise attack. Mapuche warriors on horseback would target ranches, settlements, and forts belonging to the European colonists, often called huinca (white people).
Why Malones Happened
The main goals of these raids were to:
- Get horses
- Take cattle
- Gather food and supplies
- Capture people
The attacks were very quick, giving the people being attacked little time to get ready or defend themselves. After a malón, the affected areas were often left damaged, and the people there found it hard to fight back or chase after the raiders.
Malones as Justice
Historian Juan Ignacio Molina wrote that the Mapuche sometimes saw malones as a way to get justice. If a family felt they had been wronged, they might raid the aggressor's family. These private fights were called malones.
They often involved destroying or burning things that couldn't be carried away. While these fights could be serious, especially if important leaders were involved, they usually focused on taking things rather than causing bloodshed. People often settled private arguments with fists or clubs instead of weapons.
Defending Against Malones
The people targeted by malones tried to protect themselves.
Defenses in Chile
In Chile, the Spanish built a system of forts and defenses known as La Frontera (The Frontier). A standing army was stationed there. They patrolled the border along the Bío Bío River, trying to stop the raids.
Defenses in Argentina
In Argentina, the Mapuche often raided the southern frontier in the 1800s. The Argentine government built wooden outposts and sometimes stronger forts, like Fortaleza Protectora Argentina.
They also built a huge trench called the Zanja de Alsina. This trench stretched for hundreds of kilometers across the Pampas grasslands. Its purpose was to make it harder for raiders to cross and to prevent them from driving large numbers of stolen cattle back across the frontier.
End of the Malones
Eventually, the Argentine government launched a major military campaign called the Conquest of the Desert in the late 1870s. This campaign invaded and took control of Mapuche territory, which largely brought an end to the malones.
See also
In Spanish: Malón para niños
