Paineñamcu facts for kids

Paineñamcu, also known as Paynenancu or Alonso Diaz, was an important Mapuche leader called a toqui. He led the Mapuche people from 1574 to 1584.

Alonso Diaz was a soldier from both Spanish and Indigenous backgrounds (a mestizo). He became upset because the Spanish Governor of Chile did not give him a promotion to a higher military rank. Because of this, he decided to leave the Spanish side and join the Mapuche in 1572.

When he joined the Mapuche, he took the name Paineñamcu. He was very skilled in military strategies. Because of his abilities, he was chosen as toqui in 1574. This happened after the previous leader, Paillataru, died.

Capture and Death

Paineñamcu was captured during a battle in 1584. To save his own life, he told the Spanish where they could find other leaders in the Mapuche army. These leaders included a Spaniard who had switched sides and a mulato (a person of mixed African and European heritage).

Later that same year, Paineñamcu was executed in Santiago, Chile. The Spanish believed he was still secretly communicating with the Mapuche who were fighting against them. After Paineñamcu was captured, Cayancaru became the new toqui.

See also

In Spanish: Paineñamcu para niños