María la Grande facts for kids
Quick facts for kids María |
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| La Grande | |
Modern-day portrait of María la Grande
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| Cacica of the southern Tehuelche people from the Strait of Magellan and the Patagonian coast | |
| Reign | First half of the 19th century |
| Successor | Casimiro Biguá |
| Born | c. 1789 Disputed |
| Died | c. 1841–47 Patagonia |
| Nationality | Tehuelche |
| Issue | 5 |
| Father | Vicente |
María (born around 1789 – died between 1841 and 1847) was a very important leader of the southern Tehuelche people. She is best known as María la Grande, which means "María the Great." She was a cacica, which is a female chief or leader, for her people who lived near the Strait of Magellan and along the Patagonian coast. This was during the first half of the 1800s.
Her main area of rule was around the Bay of San Gregorio. Today, this area is in the Magallanes region of Chile. However, her wisdom and judgment were so respected that other groups in Patagonia would ask for her help when they had problems.
María la Grande
Who Was María la Grande?
María was a highly respected and powerful leader among the Tehuelche people. She was known for her excellent skills in ruling her people. She was also very good at trading with European settlers and explorers who came to the region. Many people consider her one of the most important figures in the history of Patagonia. Her influence reached across all of Argentine Patagonia, from the Río Negro river all the way to the Strait of Magellan.
Meeting European Explorers
During her time as a leader, María met several famous explorers. These included James Weddell, Phillip Parker King, Robert FitzRoy, and Luis Vernet.
The nickname "the Great" was given to María by Luis Vernet. He met her in 1828 on the Valdes Peninsula. This area is now in the Chubut province of Argentina. Vernet compared her to Catherine the Great, a very powerful empress.
In 1831, Luis Vernet was made the commander of the Falkland Islands. He invited María to the islands. He wanted to start trade between his territory and hers. This shows how much he respected her power and influence.
See also
In Spanish: María la Grande para niños
