Pedro de Avendaño facts for kids

Pedro de Avendaño was a Spanish soldier who came to Chile in 1557. He arrived with the army led by García Hurtado de Mendoza. Pedro de Avendaño was known for his bravery in battles, especially in the Battle of Millarapue.

He later served in the town of Cañete under Captain Alonso de Reinoso. Captain Reinoso found a local person who helped them locate Caupolicán. Caupolicán was a very important leader, called a toqui, of the Mapuche people. He was trying to plan a new attack against the Spanish.

On February 5, 1558, Avendaño and 50 of his men, guided by the local person, marched through bad weather into the mountains near Pilmaiquén. They found and captured Caupolicán near modern Antihuala. Avendaño brought Caupolicán back to Cañete. There, Captain Reinoso, who was also a corregidor (a type of local governor), ordered Caupolicán to be put to death.

Life and Death

Pedro de Avendaño was given control over a piece of land and the native people living on it in Purén. This system was called an encomienda. However, he was known for treating the local Mapuche people very poorly. This made him very unpopular among them.

In July 1561, after Governor Mendoza had left, Rodrigo de Quiroga became the temporary governor. During this time, Avendaño and two other Spanish soldiers were attacked near Purén by a group of Mapuche led by a leader named Guenupilqui. Avendaño and the other soldiers were killed.

News of their deaths quickly spread. This event helped start a major conflict known as the second great Mapuche revolt in the Arauco War.

See also

In Spanish: Pedro de Avendaño para niños