Polygamy in Mapuche culture facts for kids
The Mapuche people are an indigenous group living in Chile. Traditionally, some Mapuche men practiced polygamy. This means a man had more than one wife. Today, polygamy is not legal in Chile. This can make things difficult for women in these marriages, especially when it comes to sharing property after a husband's death.
Polygamy is much less common now. It was more widespread before the Occupation of Araucanía (1861–1883). This was when the Chilean government took control of the Mapuche homeland. Today, it's mostly found in rural areas. However, it has also been reported in some low-income areas around Santiago. Wives who share the same husband are often relatives, like sisters. They usually live in the same community. There are old stories about polyandry among the Mapuche. This would mean a woman having more than one husband, possibly brothers. But there is no proof that this actually happened.
Mapuche Marriage Traditions Through History
Before the Spanish arrived in the early 1500s, polygamy was a very old and important tradition for the Mapuche people. They lived in the southern part of South America. When the Spanish came, this tradition caused problems. The Catholic Church, which the Spanish followed, considered polygamy a sin.
Father Luis de Valdivia was a Spanish priest. He believed that peace between the Mapuche and Spanish was possible. He tried to achieve this with his "Defensive War" policy. He got permission from leaders in Spain and Rome to start this in 1612.
However, at the Parliament of Paicaví meeting in 1612, Valdivia made a controversial decision. He ordered the capture of two wives and daughters of a Mapuche leader named Anganamón. Valdivia said he was protecting them from polygamy. According to historian José Bengoa, the Mapuche were open to discussing Christianity. But they would not discuss polygamy.
Later in 1612, on December 9, Valdivia sent a group led by Father Horacio Vechi. Vechi was one of the first Italian Christian missionaries in Chile. Local Mapuche chiefs were supposed to protect them on their journey. On December 14, Anganamón and another chief, Ynavilu, attacked the group. They killed the Jesuits and their five Mapuche escorts. This was Anganamón's revenge for Valdivia taking his wives and daughters. The people who were killed became known as the "Martyrs of Elicura."
Polygamy played a big role in Mapuche society. It was important during their fight against the Spanish. It also continued to be important during Chile's military control of Araucanía. Marriage rules were shaped by these conflicts.
Having many wives was seen as a sign of a strong warrior. Mapuche chiefs used polygamy to create alliances through marriage. More wives meant more opportunities to form important connections. In general, polygamy helped Mapuche men build many helpful relationships with others.
In later colonial times and the early Chilean republic, some officials lived among friendly Mapuche tribes. These officials were called capitanes de amigos. Many of them married Mapuche women. Some even practiced polygamy themselves.
