Quiapo, Chile facts for kids
Quiapo is a special place in the Arauco Province of Chile. Its name comes from the Mapudungun language, which is spoken by the Mapuche people. In Mapudungun, cuya means a small animal called a lesser grison, and mapu means land. So, Quiapo means "land of the grison."
Quiapo is located about 25 kilometers (about 15 miles) southwest of the town of Arauco. It's also about 25 kilometers northeast of the port city of Lebu. This area is known for its low mountains and thick forests. It also has good land for farming. Two streams meet here, forming the beginning of the Quiapo River.
Contents
Quiapo's Important History
Quiapo played a big part in a long conflict called the Arauco War. This war was fought between the Spanish and the Mapuche people.
The Battle of Quiapo
In 1558, a major battle happened here, known as the Battle of Quiapo. The Mapuche leader, or Toqui, named Lemucaguin (also known as Caupolicán the younger), built a strong fort on the hills where the two streams meet. He did this to stop the Spanish leader, García Hurtado de Mendoza, Marquis of Cañete, from moving further north into the Arauco area. The battle was a key moment in the war.
Spanish Forts at Quiapo
Later, in 1566, the Spanish governor Rodrigo de Quiroga built a small fort in the same spot. However, the Mapuche people attacked and destroyed this fort many times. Because of these attacks, the Spanish eventually gave up on the fort some years later.
The Name Quiapo
The name "Quiapo" that we use today was changed by the Spanish. The original Mapudungun name was Cuyapu or Cuyamapu. As mentioned, this means "cuya" (weasel or lesser grison) and "mapu" (land).
See also
In Spanish: Quiapo para niños
Sources
- Francisco Solano Asta-Buruaga y Cienfuegos, Diccionario geográfico de la República de Chile, SEGUNDA EDICIÓN CORREGIDA Y AUMENTADA, NUEVA YORK, D. APPLETON Y COMPAÑÍA. 1899. p. 613-14
