Siege of Concepción facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Concepcion
Part of Arauco War
Date February 1 - April 1, 1564 Location Vicinity of Concepcion, Chile Result Spanish Victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire	Mapuche
Commanders and leaders
Pedro de Villagra	Loble Millalelmo
Strength
200 soldiers, 6 cannon and citizens and indios amigos of Concepcion.	20,000 warriors
Casualties and losses
?	?

The Siege of Concepcion was an important event during the Arauco War. In this battle, about 20,000 Mapuche warriors surrounded the Spanish town of Concepcion, Chile. They tried to take over the Spanish fort and the people living there. A "siege" means when an army surrounds a place to cut off supplies and force it to surrender.

What Happened During the Siege

Preparing for Battle

In early 1564, the Spanish governor, Pedro de Villagra, was getting ready for a big fight. He knew the Mapuche people were planning a revolt, which is like a rebellion. Governor Villagra wanted to protect all the towns and forts the Spanish controlled. He also gathered his army in Concepcion. He knew the Mapuche wanted to surround Concepcion, so he prepared for a long siege.

Mapuche Victories

Before the main siege, Mapuche groups attacked Spanish areas. It was not safe for the Spanish to travel far from Concepcion.

• A Mapuche leader named Loble led 3,000 warriors. They defeated Spanish troops led by Captain Francisco de Vaca. These Spanish soldiers were trying to bring help from Santiago.
• Another Mapuche leader, Millalelmo, also led 3,000 warriors. They defeated Spanish troops from Angol. These soldiers were led by Captain Juan Perez de Zurita.

These two defeats meant that Concepcion could not get help by land. The Spanish soldiers who survived had to go back to Santiago. They were too weak to break through the Mapuche forces surrounding Concepcion.

The Siege Begins

The Mapuche leaders, Millalelmu and Loble, gathered a huge army of 20,000 warriors. These warriors came from the area between the Itata and Bio-Bio rivers. They first attacked and burned Spanish farms around Concepcion. They also took the farm animals.

Then, in early February 1564, they began to surround Concepcion. The Mapuche warriors entered the city, burning and destroying buildings. The Spanish people and the 200 soldiers had to hide inside the fort. Governor Pedro de Villagra was in charge of the fort. The Mapuche then built a strong camp on a hill overlooking the city. From there, they would come down to attack.

The Siege Continues

The siege lasted for two months. There were many small fights between the two sides. At the end of March, two Spanish ships arrived. They brought much-needed food for the people inside the fort. This meant the Spanish could last much longer.

On the other hand, the Mapuche army was having problems. They had used up all the food in the local area. It was hard for them to bring in more food for their large army. They did not have many pack animals or vehicles to carry supplies.

Also, the harvest season was coming. If the Mapuche warriors did not go home to help with the crops, their families would face hunger in the winter. They also heard that another Mapuche leader, Illangulién, had been defeated at the Battle of Angol. This made them worried that their homes might be attacked from Angol or Santiago.

Because of these reasons, the Mapuche army decided to end the siege. On April 1, they left Concepcion and went back to their homes for the winter.

See Also

In Spanish: Cerco de Concepción para niños