Butalmapu
Encyclopedia
Butalmapu or Fütalmapu is the name in Mapudungun
for "great land", which were one of the great confederations wherein the Mapuche
people organized themselves in case of war. These confederations corresponded to the great geographic areas inhabited by the Mapuches in Chile
.
At the beginning of the conquest of Chile
it is thought that there was a Butalmapu among the Picunche
from the Limari River
south to the vicinity of the Mataquito River
that was headed by a Michimalonco
. Also at the beginning of the conquest of Chile, a Moluche
Butalmapu, (name unknown), existed south of the Itata River
and north of the Bio Bio River. It may have included the aillurehue of the Cauquenes north of the Itata, who occasionally fought with them against the Spanish in the sixteenth century and earlier against the Inca in the Battle of the Maule
.
Among the Moluche
south of the Bio Bio River there were by the seventeenth century, three Butalmapu, that conformed with the main territorial identities of the Moluche: Lafkenmapu, the coastal region, Lelfünmapu the plains of the Intermediate Depression and Inapiremapu the foothills of the Andes
. One other Piremapu in the Andes
mountain range, was inhabited by the Pehuenche
s.
Each butalmapu was made up of several smaller confederations; aillarehue
s, that were made up of a number of familial clans of the same region, known as lof
s. In case of an external danger or the beginning of a military campaign, the lonco
s (caciques) of all the lofs chose a supreme military leader of the Butalmapu, called the Toqui
and Gran Toqui by the Spaniards. This leader had the right to make military decisions and usually only left his position once the campaign finished or he died. Butalmapus were not described as such in Spanish chronicles until the Cautiverio feliz y razón individual de las guerras dilatadas del reino de Chile, of Francisco Núñez de Pineda y Bascuñán
, where an account of these confederations first occurred. They were called by Núñez “utanmapu”.
Among the Huilliche
and Cuncos to the south of the Moluche there were two Butalmapu: Willimapu located in between the Toltén River
and the Bueno River
and the Chawra kawin located between the Bueno River and the Reloncaví Sound
. By 1805 these were consolidated into just one, Huillimapu.
Mapudungun
The Mapuche language, Mapudungun is a language isolate spoken in south-central Chile and west central Argentina by the Mapuche people. It is also spelled Mapuzugun and sometimes called Mapudungu or Araucanian...
for "great land", which were one of the great confederations wherein the Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
people organized themselves in case of war. These confederations corresponded to the great geographic areas inhabited by the Mapuches in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
At the beginning of the conquest of Chile
Conquest of Chile
The Conquest of Chile is a period in Chilean historiography that starts with the arrival of Pedro de Valdivia to Chile in 1541 and ends with the death of Martín García Óñez de Loyola, in the Battle of Curalaba in 1598 or alternatively with the Destruction of the Seven Cities. This was the period...
it is thought that there was a Butalmapu among the Picunche
Picunche
The Picunche , also referred to as picones by the Spanish, were a mapudungun speaking Chilean people living to the north of the Mapuches or Araucanians and south of the Choapa River and the Diaguitas...
from the Limari River
Limarí River
Limarí River is a river of Chile located in the Coquimbo Region. The river is formed at the confluence of the Hurtado and Grande rivers, about 4 km east of the city of Ovalle. The lower course of the river borders the southern portion of Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park...
south to the vicinity of the Mataquito River
Mataquito River
Mataquito is a river located in the Province of Curicó, Maule Region of Chile and formed by the union of rivers Teno and Lontué about 10 kilometers west of Curicó near the locality of Sagrada Familia and empties into the Pacific Ocean south of the town of Iloca, Licantén.- Source :*...
that was headed by a Michimalonco
Michimalonco
Michima Lonco was an indigenous chief said to be a great warrior, born in the Aconcagua Valley and educated in Cusco by the Inca Empire. He presented himself to the Spaniards, naked and covered by a black pigmentation...
. Also at the beginning of the conquest of Chile, a Moluche
Moluche
Moluche or Nguluche is a dialect of the Mapuche language Mapudungun that is also the ethnic description of the Mapuche peoples speaking that language. At the beginning of the Conquest of Chile by the Spanish Empire the Moluche lived in what came to be known as Araucanía...
Butalmapu, (name unknown), existed south of the Itata River
Itata River
The Itata River flows in the Bío-Bío Region, southern Chile.Until the Conquest of Chile the Itata was the natural limit between the Mapuche, located to the south, and Picunche, to the north.-References:* . - External links :*...
and north of the Bio Bio River. It may have included the aillurehue of the Cauquenes north of the Itata, who occasionally fought with them against the Spanish in the sixteenth century and earlier against the Inca in the Battle of the Maule
Battle of the Maule
The Battle of the Maule was fought between the Mapuche people and the Inca Empire in what is now Chile. The three-day battle, which is generally believed to have occurred in the reign of Tupac Inca Yupanqui , marked the end of the Incas' southward expansion.In a six-year campaign with an army that...
.
Among the Moluche
Moluche
Moluche or Nguluche is a dialect of the Mapuche language Mapudungun that is also the ethnic description of the Mapuche peoples speaking that language. At the beginning of the Conquest of Chile by the Spanish Empire the Moluche lived in what came to be known as Araucanía...
south of the Bio Bio River there were by the seventeenth century, three Butalmapu, that conformed with the main territorial identities of the Moluche: Lafkenmapu, the coastal region, Lelfünmapu the plains of the Intermediate Depression and Inapiremapu the foothills of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
. One other Piremapu in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
mountain range, was inhabited by the Pehuenche
Pehuenche
Pehuenches are an indigenous people that are part of the Mapuche peoples and live in the Andes in south central Chile and Argentina. Their name derives from their habit of harvesting of piñones, the seeds of the Araucaria araucana or pehuén...
s.
Each butalmapu was made up of several smaller confederations; aillarehue
Aillarehue
Aillarehue or Ayllarehue Aillarehue or Ayllarehue Aillarehue or Ayllarehue (from the (mapudungun: ayllarewe/ayjarewe: " nine rehues"); a confederation of rehues or familiar clans (lof) that dominated a region or province. It was the old administrative and territorial division of the Mapuche,...
s, that were made up of a number of familial clans of the same region, known as lof
Lof
Lof or caví ; formed the basic social organization of the Mapuche, Huilliche and the extinct Picunche peoples, consisting of a familial clan or lineage that recognizes the authority of a lonco...
s. In case of an external danger or the beginning of a military campaign, the lonco
Lonco
A lonco or lonko is a tribal chief of the Mapuches. These were often Ulmen, the wealthier men in the lof. In wartime loncos of the various local rehue or the larger aillarehue would gather in a koyag or parliament and would elect a toqui to lead the warriors in battle...
s (caciques) of all the lofs chose a supreme military leader of the Butalmapu, called the Toqui
Toqui
Toqui is a title conferred by the Mapuche to those who are chosen as their leaders during times of war. The toqui is chosen in an assembly or parliament of the chieftains of the various clans or confederation of clans , allied during the war in question...
and Gran Toqui by the Spaniards. This leader had the right to make military decisions and usually only left his position once the campaign finished or he died. Butalmapus were not described as such in Spanish chronicles until the Cautiverio feliz y razón individual de las guerras dilatadas del reino de Chile, of Francisco Núñez de Pineda y Bascuñán
Francisco Núñez de Pineda y Bascuñán
Francisco Núñez de Pineda y Bascuñán Chilean writer and soldier. In 1629 he participated in an expedition to defeat the Mapuche, but, during the Battle of Las Cangrejeras, he was taken prisoner by the cacique Maulicán, who kept him captive for seven months...
, where an account of these confederations first occurred. They were called by Núñez “utanmapu”.
Among the Huilliche
Huilliche
The Huilliche is an ethnic group of Chile, belonging to the Mapuche culture. They live in mountain valleys in an area south of Toltén River and on Chiloé Archipelago...
and Cuncos to the south of the Moluche there were two Butalmapu: Willimapu located in between the Toltén River
Toltén River
Toltén River is a river located in the Araucanía Region of Chile. It rises at Villarrica Lake, close to the city of the same name. Its major tributary is Allipén River...
and the Bueno River
Bueno River
Bueno River is a river in southern Chile. It originates in Ranco Lake and like most of Chile rivers it drains into the Pacific Ocean at the southern boundary of the Valdivian Coastal Reserve. Its lower flow forms the border between Osorno Province and Ranco Province...
and the Chawra kawin located between the Bueno River and the Reloncaví Sound
Reloncaví Sound
Reloncaví Sound or Seno de Reloncaví is a body of water located immediately south of Puerto Montt, Chile. It is the place where the Intermediate Depression falls into the Pacific Ocean. There are several islands in the sound including Tenglo Island, Maillén Island and Huar Island...
. By 1805 these were consolidated into just one, Huillimapu.
Sources
- Ricardo E. Latcham, La organización social y las creencias religiosas de los antiguos araucanos, Impr. Cervantes, Santiago de Chile, 1924.
- INFORME DE LA COMISIÓN VERDAD HISTÓRICA Y NUEVO TRATO 2003; Volumen III, TOMO II, Primera parte del informe final de la Comision de Trabajo Autónomo Mapuche, Capitulo II Territorio y Tierras Mapuche, II. Procesos territoriales en el mapunche majontu mapu (1550-1818)