Guanoalca
Encyclopedia
Guanoalca (died 1590) was the Mapuche
Toqui
elected in 1586 following the death in battle of the previous toqui Cadeguala
, killed in a duel with the garrison commander of the Spanish fort at Puren
in 1586. He returned to continue the siege and forced the Spanish to evactuate the fort which he then destroyed.
He then directed his army against the Spanish fort newly built on the heights of Marihueñu
but finding it too strongly held to attack he diverted his attacks against the newly established fort of Espíritu Santo, in the valley of Catirai
where the Tavolevo River
meets the Bio Bio River and the fort of Santísima Trinidad
on the opposite shore. The governor Alonso de Sotomayor
, evacuated Trinidad in 1591.
While he was Toqui in the south near Villa Rica
, the female leader Janequeo lead Mapuche and Pehuenche
warriors against the Spanish.
The old Toqui Guanoalca died at the end of 1590, and in 1591, Quintuguenu
, was his successor.
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...
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...
elected in 1586 following the death in battle of the previous toqui Cadeguala
Cadeguala
Cadeguala or Cadiguala was a Mapuche toqui elected in 1585 following the death in battle of the previous toqui Nangoniel. Cadeguala was a noted warrior and the first Mapuche toqui known to have used cavalry successfully in battle...
, killed in a duel with the garrison commander of the Spanish fort at Puren
Puren
Puren may refer to:*Purén, city in Chile*Jin Youzhi, brother of Puyi, the last Emperor of China...
in 1586. He returned to continue the siege and forced the Spanish to evactuate the fort which he then destroyed.
He then directed his army against the Spanish fort newly built on the heights of Marihueñu
Marihueñu
Marihueñu or Marigueno is a large hill in the Nahuelbuta Range near the coast in the Lota commune of the Bio-Bio Region of southern Chile. Its name is from the Mapudungun mari, "ten" and huenu, "heights"...
but finding it too strongly held to attack he diverted his attacks against the newly established fort of Espíritu Santo, in the valley of Catirai
Catirai
Catirai or Catiray is the region of the Moluche Aillarehue of Catiray in old Araucanía. It is now the Santa Juana commune of the Concepción Province and the Nacimiento commune of the Biobío Province of the Biobío Region, of Chile...
where the Tavolevo River
Tavolevo River
Tavolevo River, a tributary of the Bio Bio River. It has two tributaries the Culenco River flowing southeast from the Nahuelbuta Range in the Catirai region and the Nicodahue River that flows north from the Araucanía Region and its two tributaries the Esperanza and Maitenrehue Rivers that all...
meets the Bio Bio River and the fort of Santísima Trinidad
Santísima Trinidad (fort)
Santísima Trinidad or Most Holy Trinity was a fortress in the Kingdom of Chile that existed on the north shore of the Bio-Bio River in what is now the Biobío Province. It was built directly across the river from Fort Espíritu Santo by the Royal Governor of Chile Alonso de Sotomayor in 1585...
on the opposite shore. The governor Alonso de Sotomayor
Alonso de Sotomayor
Alonso de Sotomayor y Valmediano was a Spanish conquistador from Extremadura, and a Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:He was born in Trujillo, in the province of Extremadura, the son of Gutiérrez de Sotomayor e Hinojosa and Beatriz de Valmediano...
, evacuated Trinidad in 1591.
While he was Toqui in the south near Villa Rica
Villarrica, Chile
Villarrica is a city and commune in southern Chile located on the western shore of Villarrica Lake in the Province of Cautín, Araucanía Region south of Santiago and close to the Villarrica Volcano ski center to the south east. Residents of Villarrica are known as Villarriquences.Tourism, grain and...
, the female leader Janequeo lead Mapuche and 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...
warriors against the Spanish.
The old Toqui Guanoalca died at the end of 1590, and in 1591, Quintuguenu
Quintuguenu
Quintuguenu the Mapuche Toqui in the Arauco War elected in 1591 following the death of the old toqui Guanoalca. He was killed in battle the same year. Paillaeco was elected as his successor in 1592.- Sources :* * List of Toquis, pg. 162-163, 498-500....
, was his successor.
Sources
- The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili By Don Juan Ignatius Molina, Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, Paternoster-Row, London, 1809
- José Ignacio Víctor Eyzaguirre, Historia eclesiastica: Politica y literaria de Chile, IMPRENTA DEL COMERCIO, VALPARAISO, June 1830 List of Toquis, pg. 162-163, 498-500.