Toqui

The toqui Lautarowith axe head (also called a toqui) hanging on the neck as a command badge.

Toqui (from the Mapudungun toki) is the title that the Mapuche gave to their military leaders. The term was also used to name the stone ax head that Mapuche chiefs used as an insignia of command.

Description

The toqui was chosen in an assembly of loncos from the different allied clans in the war in question, who came together to form a group called rehue. It was not a lifetime or hereditary position, but a mandate that lasted as long as the war or the exceptional situation persisted, or as long as the agreement between the loncos who had elected him was maintained.

The method of election was variable, but it was based on the fame and ability as a warrior of the candidates and their oratorical ability. The version told in La Araucana (the election of Caupolicán through a test of strength) is no longer universally accepted.

The mapu-toqui

In times of great calamities, such as droughts, epidemics, invasions or other great problems that affected a wide area of territory, the aillarehue was formed, a small confederation of nine hostages, whose chief was the mapu-toqui (military chief of a region in a state of war). The aillarehues acquired great importance to face the Spanish.

The great toqui

Due to the fight against the Spanish conquistadores, the Mapuches were forced to form alliances between various Aillarehues. Such alliances were called butalmapus, or war zones. The head of each butalmapu was chosen by the toquis; the Spanish called it the "great toqui" and the big one.

Toquis from the arrival of the Spanish to the 18th century

Probable standard of toquis, based on representations.

The following caciques were toquis:

• Malloquete 1546 †
• Aillavillu 1550 †
• Lincoyán 1551-1553
• Lautaro 1554-1557 †
• Caupolican 1557-1558 †
• Caupolican II 1558 †
• Illangulién (Antiguenu) 1559-1564 †
  • Loble or AntuneculVice-Toqui 1563-1565
• Paillataru 1564-1574
  • Llanganabal
  • Millalelmo
• Paynenancu (Alonzo Díaz) 1574-1583 †
• Cayancura 1584-1585
• Nongoniel 1585 †
• Cadeguala 1585-1586 †
• Guanoalca 1587-1590
• Quintuguenu 1591 †
• Paillaeco 1591 †
• Paillamachu 1592-1603
  • Filming vice versa
  • Millacolquin vice toqui
• Huenecura 1604-1610
• Aillavilu II 1610
• Anganamon, Ancanamon or Ancanamun 1612 - 1613
• Loncothegua 1613-1621
• Lientur 1621-1629
• Butapichón 1629-1631
• Quepuantú 1631-1632 †
• Butapichón 1632-1634 †
• Huenucalquin 1634-1635 †
• Curante 1635 †
• Curimilla 1635-1639 †
• Lincopinchon 1640-1641
• Clentaru 1655-1656
• Mestizo Alejo 1656-1661 †
• Misqui 1661 †
• Colicheuque 1663 †
• Udalevi 1664-1665 †
  • Calbuñancu Vice toqui 1664-1665 †
• Ayllicuriche 1672-1673 †
• Millalpal (Millapan) 1692-1694
• Female 1722-1726
• Curiñancu 1766-1774
  • Leviantu Vice Toqui

† Killed in battle or executed for the rebellion.

Reception

Rubén Darío, in his sonnet "Caupolicán", dedicates these verses to the figure of Toqui:

"The toqui, the toqui, the toqui, cries out the stirred caste."

Anduvo, anduvo, the aurora said, "Enough."

and the high front of the great Caupolican went. "