Caupolican

Caupolicán (? - 1558) (in Mapudungun: Kallfülikan or perhaps Kewpulikan) was a Mapuche toqui (and possible nephew de Colo Colo) who led the resistance of his people against the Spanish conquistadors who arrived in present-day Chile during the 16th century.

Biography

His main known wife was Fresia, also called Güeden or Paca by other authors. His main known son was Lemucaguin, also called Caupolicán the Younger.

Early Years

He fought from his youth against the Spanish conquistadors to keep the region in which he was under their control. He was elected toqui (military chief) of the Mapuches, being Lautaro's successor, although Alonso de Ercilla highlights his election before, being Colo Colo's secret candidate for the conduct of the war. Apparently he was a member of a highly respected family in Mapuche society, since he and his brothers were always in the nucleus of chiefs who planned the war movements. In fact, Gerónimo de Vivar points it out in the Battle of Millarapue:

"At last, the beam where Captain Rodrigo de Quiroga gave was unraveled. One hundred and twenty Indians died, among whom seven principals and one brother of Oteopolican (caupolican), were killed, who was not less vilicous."

Gerónimo de Vivar

In addition, we know of his son Lemucaguin. Historian Juan Ignacio Molina wrote that the toqui in Quiapo was Caupolicán the Younger, son of toqui Caupolicán.

"Caupolicán was a man of authority, severe and severe, hard and determined, firm to maintain his opinions and carry out his business. He was born a nut, and that flaw, which gave his face a ferocious and somewhat tetrical appearance, was not demeaning for his physical ability... »

Fernando Alegría in his book Lautaro, young liberator of Arauco

The Mapuche are a people who resisted the Spanish conquest of southern Chile. Together with Lautaro he was one of the drivers of the Araucanians in the wars of the XVI century. He cooperated with Lautaro in taking Fort Tucapel and in the Battle of Tucapel, where the conquering army was defeated and Pedro de Valdivia died. His name is a symbol of indigenous resistance, his life and events are collected by Alonso de Ercilla —one of García Hurtado de Mendoza y Manrique's captains— in his epic work La Araucana and Rubén Darío in his poem Caupolicán.

Combat of Lagunillas

Monument to Araucanía (with Caupolican as one of the 5 characters)

After Lautaro's death, the Mapuches were left without a worthy leader to guide them; this was evidenced in the combat of the Fort of San Luis, which could not be taken, and in the battle of Lagunillas on November 8, 1557. Then, a large force of 12,000 Mapuches under the command of several toquis—among them, the caciques Lincoyán and Galvarino—attacked a powerful royalist force under the command of García Hurtado de Mendoza. When crossing the Biobío River, coming from Concepción, García brought a force of 600 well-armed soldiers and about 1,500 Yanaconas, who were attacked by this Mapuche force in some swamps, called "lagunillas."

The attack was disorganized, and despite the great difference in numbers, the Mapuche were defeated in brutal hand-to-hand combat; leaving hundreds of dead and wounded and 150 prisoners in the camp. Among these prisoners was one of the toquis: Galvarino. García de Hurtado y Mendoza, displaying the same attitude, so common among the Spanish conquistadors, as well as that of Pedro de Valdivia in the Battle of Andalién, ordered as an example, to mutilate the right hand and the nose of the prisoners. Galvarino not only placed his right hand to be amputated, but, in an act of great courage, he placed his other hand before his executioner and both were amputated before being released. This form of punishment managed to infuriate and harden the Mapuches even more against the usurpers of their territory.

Election of Caupolicán as toqui

Caupolican holding the tree trunk during your choice toqui.

She is portraying the election of Caupolican.

After these defeats, the Mapuches met in a great Council in the Sierra de Pilmaiquén. The objective of this Council was to unify the Mapuche forces in a single command, with the election of a toqui. Caupolicán was chosen for his great physical strength and courage. He was stern-faced and one-eyed from childhood. According to the traditions, Caupolicán had to demonstrate his strength before the caciques, among whom were Tucapel and Rengo, presided over by Colo Colo, holding a thick tree trunk on his shoulders for two days and two nights without fainting before being elected. touch; Caupolicán was the winner among other candidates such as Ongolmo, Lincoyán and Elicura. Alonso de Ercilla would immortalize it in La Araucana:

With a disdain and show confident,

roasting the hard and knotted trunk,

as if it were delicate,

puts it on the powerful shoulder:

people enmuded wonder

to see the strong body so nervous.

The color of Lincoya is moved

putting in his victory a lot of doubt.

The barbarian sagaz slowly walked,

And in a hurry came the clear day;

The sun shortened the long shadows,

more he never decrees on his behalf:

at sunset the light was withdrawn,

neither was there any weakness in it;

the stars are clearly shown,

and it shows no weariness that mighty one."

At the end of the XIX century, the Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío wrote «Caupolicán», one of the sonnets that appeared in the book Azul... (1888), in whose scene he mythologizes the aforementioned feat of the hero.

It is a formidable thing that the old race saw:

robust tree trunk to the shoulder of a champion

wild and aguerrido, whose fornida maza

Blend Hercules' arm, or Samson's arm.

By helmet his hair, his chest by armour,

could such a warrior, of Arauco in the region,

lancer of the woods, Nemrod that every hunt,

tear a bull, or choke a lion.

Come on, come on, come on. He saw the light of the day,

He saw him the pale evening, he saw him the cold night,

and always the trunk of a tree at the expense of titan.

“The Toqui, the Toqui!” cries out caste.

Come on, come on, come on. The aurora said: “Enough”,

and the high front of the great Caupolican went.

Reuben Darius, Blue... (1888).

Battle of Millarapue

After the victory of the Spanish arms in Lagunillas, García entered hostile territory looking for a decisive battle. The royalist forces encamped in Millarapue, in the interior of Araucanía, on November 29. The Mapuches under the command of Caupolicán attempted a surprise attack on the enemy camp at dawn on November 30. It coincided that that day was celebrated among the Spaniards on San Andrés Day and the sound of a joyous reveille of trumpets sounded, which the Mapuches interpreted as an alarm; and thus, believing themselves discovered, the attack was ruined. The number of attackers was 15,000; among them came Galvarino in front, who was shown with his two severed arms stirring up the passions of his comrades. The battle was fierce. The battle of Millarapue lasted from dawn until 2:00 p.m. the next day, and Caupolicán led it mounted on a white horse. Finally, the Mapuches were encircled from the flanks and rear and defeated. The Spanish established the fort of Cañete, not far from where the one of Tucapel was located.

The battle of the fort of Cañete

On January 20, 1558, the Spanish suffered an attack on the fortified city of Cañete, being surrounded and besieged by more than 15,000 Mapuches. Caupolicán's idea was to starve the besieged. The situation became very critical, since the exit to the open field was a certain defeat for the Spanish; Likewise, a direct attack on the fort, with the well-armed Spanish contingent, implied a large number of casualties among the Araucanians. A pro-Spanish Yanacona named Andresillo (a very common name, such as Felipillo and others ending in -illo, given to the Yanaconas) offered to lure the Mapuche to the fort by trickery. The plan consisted of making friends with the attackers, making Andresillo appear as a deserter from the Spanish; the Mapuches believed in this character and he told them that siesta time was the best time to attack the Spaniards unawares; he would open the doors for them to attack by surprise. Caupolicán had the veracity of Andresillo's argument verified by ordering a spy to be introduced inside the fort. Alonso de Reinoso, captain of the fort, had already anticipated the spy's visit and gave instructions for everyone to pretend to be asleep. February 5 was set as the attack date. Andresillo opened the doors of the fort and a mass of Mapuches entered silently. When almost everyone was inside the fort, they were greeted by rifle discharges that caused great mortality among the attackers, who fled in disarray; Caupolicán was able to flee thanks to the fact that the Spanish cavalry had not yet arrived in the combat zone. By the time it arrived, the Mapuche troops were already withdrawing through the hills and the Spanish went out in pursuit.

Death of Caupolicán

The capture of Caupolican according to Raymond Monvoisin.

Caupolican prisoner and Fresia according to Raymond Monvoisin.

While the surviving Mapuches were still withdrawing, an advance guard under the command of Pedro de Avendaño arrived at Pilmaiquén, and in the Battle of Antihuala (February 5, 1558) captured Caupolicán, who was preparing a counteroffensive. According to Ercilla, when he was led tied up by a picket to the Tucapel fort, an irate Mapuche woman named Fresia jumped out at him with a baby in her arms; she was the son of the defeated toqui . The woman reproached him for allowing himself to be captured alive; she threw her child at her feet and left, her pleas to return for the child being fruitless. The march continued on its course in silence. He was brought before the veteran Alonso de Reinoso, who sentenced him to die on the pike, a terrible death by impalement. Cristóbal de Arévalo, Field Bailiff, was in charge of executing the order. Caupolicán was raised and tied to a platform that had a wooden end cut in the shape of a pike in the center; Caupolicán, showing great serenity, looked arrogantly at the crowd of Spaniards who were contemplating him and said:

"For the fairy and my lot have me this kindness mated, see that I ask her, I love her, that no evil is great and is last."

La Araucana

Having said this, he raised his right foot, still with the moorings on, and gave the executioner a great kick, who rolled off the dais; this done, he himself sat on the pike and, showing no sign of pain, died by impalement. Galvarino had also been captured and hanged. After these atrocious episodes, and due to family prestige, Caupolicán the Younger, his eldest son, was elected military leader, acting in the battle of Quiapo (November 1558).

The death of Caupolican.

Caupolicán, without a doubt, was a brave warrior, although he did not obtain the victories nor did he possess the military genius of Lautaro; the exploits of both were sung in the epic poem La Araucana, by Alonso de Ercilla. Rubén Darío also dedicated a poem to him. Some 40 years later, a new Mapuche leadership arose among which Pelantarú, Lientur and the mestizo Alejo would stand out. Currently, Caupolicán is recognized for his prowess, strength, and intelligence throughout Chile by naming streets, theaters, parks, and monuments in his honor. It is mistakenly believed that the bronze statue located on the Santa Lucía hill in Santiago is a tribute to the toqui. The truth is that it is a work by the sculptor Nicanor Plaza, who the Chilean popular tradition associated with Caupolicán.

"The story has changed for us, of course. The “official books” say that it is others who did it and continue to do it for our peoples. The heroes of this story, in a “civilized” world in which there should no longer be, are the invaders. But impaled caupolican, facing them, represents the supplication of our past, which enters burning in our hearts. Lautaro is the future that we glimpse, behind the curtain of mystery and commitment, and that will come out as the light of our eyes."

Elicura Chihuailaf.