Mapuche uprising of 1766 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mapuche uprising of 1766
Part of the Arauco War
Date December 25, 1766 – February , 1767 Location Araucanía, La Frontera Result Spanish penetration into Araucanía reversed
Belligerents
Mapuche rebels	Spanish Empire Pehuenche
Commanders and leaders
Curiñancu	Salvador Cabrito

The Mapuche uprising of 1766 was an important conflict between the Mapuche people and the Spanish. It happened in a region called Araucanía. This event was one of the last big fights in the long Arauco War.

The Mapuche Uprising of 1766: A Fight for Land

This uprising was a key moment in the history of the Arauco War. It showed the Mapuche people's strong desire to protect their lands and way of life. The conflict took place in what is now Chile.

Spanish Plans for New Towns

In the mid-1760s, the Spanish Governor of Chile, Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga, had a plan. He wanted to "pacify" the Mapuche people. This meant he wanted them to settle down in new towns. These towns would be built in Mapuche territory.

The Governor called a big meeting with Mapuche chiefs. This meeting, called a parliament, happened in December 1764. It lasted for several days with many celebrations. During this meeting, the Governor shared his idea about building towns. The Mapuche chiefs did not agree to the plan. However, they also did not say "no" directly.

In early 1765, Governor Guill y Gonzaga started building some new towns. These towns were near the Bío Bío River. After this, he went back north to Santiago. He spent much of 1766 trying to make the town building go faster.

Mapuche Resistance to Spanish Settlement

The Spanish authorities tried to make the Mapuche help build these towns. But the Mapuche people did not want to help. They did not want towns built on their lands.

The Mapuche secretly planned a large uprising. They pretended to be friendly with the Spanish. This helped them delay the building work. It also gave them time to prepare for their rebellion.

The Uprising Begins: Surprise Attacks

On December 25, 1766, the Mapuche launched their attacks. They surprised Spanish settlements and properties. It was a coordinated series of attacks.

A Spanish military leader, Salvador Cabrito, was trapped. He was besieged in the town of Angol. On December 30, Spanish soldiers arrived from Nacimiento. They broke the siege and helped evacuate Angol. The town was then abandoned because it was surrounded by Mapuche fighters.

Pehuenche Involvement in the Conflict

In January 1767, another group joined the fighting. The Pehuenche people, who lived in the Andes mountains, attacked the lowland Mapuche. It is possible that the Spanish encouraged this attack.

The Mapuche seemed happy to have stopped the Spanish from expanding. Because of this, the uprising changed. It became a conflict between different Indigenous groups.

Peace Agreement and Later Conflicts

In February 1767, Governor Guill y Gonzaga signed a peace agreement. This agreement was made with the Mapuche who had rebelled. It brought an end to the main uprising.

However, conflicts continued in the region. In the spring of 1769, the Pehuenches turned their attacks. This time, they attacked the Spanish in Isla del Laja.