Mapuche uprising of 1766

The Mapuche uprising of 1766 was the last major Spanish–Mapuche conflict in Araucanía.

Mapuche uprising of 1766
Part of Arauco War
Date December 25, 1766 – February , 1767 Location Araucanía, La Frontera Result Spanish penetration into Araucanía reversed
Belligerents
Mapuche rebels	Spanish Empire Pehuenche
Commanders and leaders
Curiñancu	Salvador Cabrito

Under the influence of a young generation of Jesuits Governor of Chile Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga attempted to "pacify" Araucanía by settling the unruly Mapuche into series of towns to be founded in their territory.[1] Guill y Gonzaga called Mapuche chiefs to a parliament on December 8, 1764 which lasted until December 10 amidst festivities.[1] In the parliament Mapuches did not accept, but avoided to decline explicitly, the governors proposal to establish towns in lands.[1] In early 1765 Guill y Gonzaga supervised the founding of a series of new towns near Bío Bío River, after which he returned north to Santiago.[2] The governor spent much of 1766, from April to November, around Concepción attempting to speed up the founding of towns.[2][3] Despite the Spanish authorities attempts to force the Mapuche to work in their plan, the Mapuche were unwilling to contribute to the founding of towns in their lands.[2] The Mapuche consciously sought to delay works pretending to be in good terms with the Spanish while a grand uprising was prepared in secrecy.[3]

Then on December 25, 1766, conspiring Mapuches launched a series of surprise attacks against Spanish settlements and property in general.[4] Maestre de campo Salvador Cabrito was besieged in the town of Angol.[4] On December 30 a relieving Spanish force arrived to Angol from Nacimiento breaking the siege and evacuating Angol which was abandoned as it was surrounded by hostile Mapuche.[4] On January 1767 Pehuenches, a tribe inhabiting the Andes, attacked the lowland Mapuche.[5] Possibly the Spanish may had instigated this attack.[5] As the Mapuche appeared to have been content with reversing Spanish the penetration of the previous years the uprising evolved into an inter-indigenous conflict.[5]

In February 1767, Guill y Gonzaga signed a peace agreement with revolting Mapuches.[6]

In the austral spring of 1769, the Pehuenches turned their attacks against the Spanish in Isla del Laja.[6]