Toqui (
MapudungunMapudungun is a language isolate spoken in central Chile and west central Argentina by the Mapuche people. It is also known as Mapudungu, Mapuche, and Araucanian...
for
axe or
axe-bearer) is a title conferred by the
MapucheThe Mapuche are the indigenous inhabitants of Central and Southern Chile and Southern Argentina. They were known as Araucanians by the Spaniards. This is now considered pejorative by the people and the term Mapuche is the one most often used by people in conversation...
(an indigenous Chilean people) to those who are chosen as their leader during times of war. The toqui is chosen in an assembly or
parliamentA parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French parlement, the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at...
(
coyag), of the chiefs (
loncoA lonco 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) of the various clans (
RehueRehue or rewe is the sacred altar used by the Mapuche of Chile in many of their ceremonies.- Alter :It is a tree trunk set in the ground and surrounded by canes of colihue located in row and adorned with white, blue or yellow flags and branches of coihues, maitén, lengas and other trees of the area...
s) or confederation of clans (
AillarehueAillarehue 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), allied during the war in question. The Toqui could command strict obedience of all the warriors and their loncos during the war, organize them in units and appoint leaders over them.
Toqui (
MapudungunMapudungun is a language isolate spoken in central Chile and west central Argentina by the Mapuche people. It is also known as Mapudungu, Mapuche, and Araucanian...
for
axe or
axe-bearer) is a title conferred by the
MapucheThe Mapuche are the indigenous inhabitants of Central and Southern Chile and Southern Argentina. They were known as Araucanians by the Spaniards. This is now considered pejorative by the people and the term Mapuche is the one most often used by people in conversation...
(an indigenous Chilean people) to those who are chosen as their leader during times of war. The toqui is chosen in an assembly or
parliamentA parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French parlement, the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at...
(
coyag), of the chiefs (
loncoA lonco 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) of the various clans (
RehueRehue or rewe is the sacred altar used by the Mapuche of Chile in many of their ceremonies.- Alter :It is a tree trunk set in the ground and surrounded by canes of colihue located in row and adorned with white, blue or yellow flags and branches of coihues, maitén, lengas and other trees of the area...
s) or confederation of clans (
AillarehueAillarehue 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), allied during the war in question. The Toqui could command strict obedience of all the warriors and their loncos during the war, organize them in units and appoint leaders over them. This command would continue until toqui was killed, deposed in another parliament (as in the case of Lincoyan, for poor leadership), or upon completion of the war for which he was chosen.
Some of the more famous Toqui in the
Arauco WarThe Arauco War was a conflict that lasted three centuries, making it one of the longest wars in human history, between colonial Spaniards and the Mapuche people of the region south of the Bío Bío River, the Araucanía, nowadays the Araucanía and Biobío regions of modern Chile...
with the Spanish introduced tactical innovations; for instance, Lautaro introduced infantry tactics to defeat horsemen.
LemucaguinLemucaguin a native of Andalicán was the successor to Turcupichun as toqui of the Moluche Butalmapu north of the Bio-Bio River in 1558. He organized a detachment of arquebusiers from weapons captured in the Battle of Marihueñu. He continued the war against García Hurtado de Mendoza after the...
was the first Toqui to use firearms and
artilleryArtillery is a military combat Arm that employs weapons capable of discharging large projectiles in combat. They are generally capable of adding considerable fire power to the military capability of an armed force...
in battle. Nongoniel was the first Toqui to use cavalry with the Mapuche army.
CadegualaCadeguala or Cadiguala a Mapuche toqui elected in 1585 following the death in battle of the previous toqui Nangoniel. Killed in a duel with the garrison commander of the Spanish fort at Purén in 1586...
was the first to successfully use Mapuche cavarly to defeat Spanish cavalry in battle. Anganamón was the first to mount his infantry to keep up with his fast moving cavalry.
LienturLientur was the Mapuche toqui from 1618 to 1625. He was the successor to Loncothegua. Lientur with his vice toqui Levipillan was famed for his rapid malóns or raids...
pioneered the tactic of numerous and rapid
malónMalón or maloca was a military raiding tactic of the Mapuche peoples from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. Pioneered by leaders like Lientur, it consisted of a fast surprise attack by a number of mounted Mapuche warriors against the white populations, haciendas, settlements and...
s into Spanish territory.
List of Mapuche Toquis
The following
MapucheThe Mapuche are the indigenous inhabitants of Central and Southern Chile and Southern Argentina. They were known as Araucanians by the Spaniards. This is now considered pejorative by the people and the term Mapuche is the one most often used by people in conversation...
leaders were at some time named as toquis:
- Malloquete
Malloquete, Mapuche toqui that led an army of Moluche from the region north of the Bio Bio River against Pedro de Valdivia in the 1546 Battle of Quilacura.- Sources :* Jerónimo de Vivar, ARTEHISTORIA REVISTA DIGITAL; Crónicas de América **...
1546 †
- Ainavillo
Ainavillo, Aynabillo, Aillavilu or Aillavilú, was the toqui of the Mapuche army from the provinces of "Ñuble, Itata, Renoguelen, Guachimavida, Marcande, Gualqui, Penco and Talcaguano." They tried to stop Pedro de Valdivia from invading their lands in 1550...
, Aynabillo or Aillavilú 1550 †
- Lincoyan
Lincoyan was the Mapuche toqui that succeeded Ainavillo after the defeat at the Battle of Penco. He tried to stop Pedro de Valdivia from invading and establishing fortresses and cities in their lands between 1551 and 1553 at the beginning of the Arauco War with no success. In 1553, he was...
1551-1553
- Caupolicán
Caupolicán was a Toqui, the military leader of the Mapuche people of Chile, that commanded their army during the first Mapuche rising against the Spanish conquistadors from 1553 to 1558....
1553-1558 ††
- Lautaro Vice Toqui 1553-1557 †
- Turcupichun
Turcupichun was the toqui of the Mapuche Aillarehues in the vicinity of Concepcion, Chile and the Bio-Bio River valley from 1557 to 1558. García Hurtado de Mendoza, Marquis of Cañete landed landed in early June 1557 on the island of La Quiriquina at the mouth of the bay of San Pedro. Soon...
1557-1558 ††
- Lemucaguin
Lemucaguin a native of Andalicán was the successor to Turcupichun as toqui of the Moluche Butalmapu north of the Bio-Bio River in 1558. He organized a detachment of arquebusiers from weapons captured in the Battle of Marihueñu. He continued the war against García Hurtado de Mendoza after the...
or Caupolicán the youngerCaupolicán the younger according to Juan Ignacio Molina was the son of the toqui Caupolicán. He was made toqui following the capture and execution of his father in 1558...
1558 †
- Illangulién
Illangulién, Quiromanite, , Queupulien or Antiguenu, was the Mapuche toqui elected to replace Lemucaguin or Caupolicán the younger in 1559 following the Battle of Quiapo to his death in battle in the Battle of Angol in 1564....
, Quiromanite,, Queupulien or Antiguenu 1559-1564 †
- Millalelmo
Millalelmo or Millarelmo was a famous Mapuche military leader in the second great Mapuche rebellion that began in 1561 during the Arauco War...
or Millarelmo or Antunecul 1562-1570
- Loble
Loble or Lig-lemu , or Lillemu was the Mapuche vice toqui of the Moluche north of the Bio-Bio River who led the second Mapuche revolt during the Arauco War....
or Lig-lemu , or Lillemu Vice Toqui 1563-1565
- Paillataru
Paillataru was the toqui of the Mapuche from 1564-1574. He succeaded Illangulién in 1564 following his death in the Battle of Angol. Paillataru was said to be the brother or cousin of Lautaro....
1564-1574
- Llanganabal
Llanganabal was a Moluche toqui who led the Mapuche army that defeated the Spanish led by Martín Ruiz de Gamboa in the Battle of Catirai in 1569. In 1560 Llanganabal is listed as one of the caciques heading an encomienda along the Bio Bio River. Shortly after began the outbreak of the 1561...
1569
- Paineñamcu
Paineñamcu or Paynenancu or Alonso Diaz, was the Mapuche toqui from 1574 to 1584. Alonso Diaz was a mestizo Spanish soldier offended because the Governor of Chile did not promote him to the to the officer rank of alféres, who subsequently went over to the Mapuche in 1572...
or Paynenancu , originally Alonso Diaz 1574-1584 ††
- Cayancaru
Cayancura or Cayeucura, a Mapuche native to the region of Marigüenu, chosen as toqui in 1584, to replace the captured Paineñamcu. His one great operation was an attempted siege of the fort at Arauco that failed, leading to his abdication of his office in favor of his son Nangoniel in 1585.-...
or Cayeucura 1584
- Nongoniel or Mangolien 1585 †
- Cadeguala
Cadeguala or Cadiguala a Mapuche toqui elected in 1585 following the death in battle of the previous toqui Nangoniel. Killed in a duel with the garrison commander of the Spanish fort at Purén in 1586...
or Cadiguala 1585-1586 †
- Guanoalca
Guanoalca or Huenualca, 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...
or Huenualca 1586-1590
- 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....
1591 †
- Paillaeco
Paillaeco, was elected Toqui in 1592 in place of Quintuguenu after his defeat and death. He did not think his forces were now sufficient to oppose the Spanish in the open field and decided to to draw them into an ambush. The Spanish turned the tables on them drawing his army out of their ambush...
1592 †
- Paillamachu
Paillamachu was the Mapuche toqui from 1592 to 1603 in what is now Chile. He organized the great revolt of 1598 that expelled the Spanish from Araucanía south of the Bío Bío River.- Sources :* * List of Toquis, pg. 162-163, 498-500....
1592-1603
- Pelantaro
Pelantaro or Pelantarú was the one of the vice toquis of Paillamachu the toqui or military leader of the Mapuche people during the Mapuche uprising in 1598...
Vice Toqui
- Millacolquin Vice Toqui
- Huenecura
Huenecura or Huenencura was the Mapuche Toqui from 1604 to 1610. He replaced Paillamachu who died in 1603. He was replaced by Aillavilu in 1610.- Sources :* * List of Toquis, pg. 162-163, 498-500....
or Huenencura 1604-1610
- Aillavilu, Aillavilú II, Aillavilu Segundo 1610-1612
- Anganamón, Ancanamon or Ancanamun1612-1613
- Loncothegua 1613-1620
- Lientur
Lientur was the Mapuche toqui from 1618 to 1625. He was the successor to Loncothegua. Lientur with his vice toqui Levipillan was famed for his rapid malóns or raids...
1621-1625
- Butapichón
Butapichón or Butapichún or Putapichon was the Mapuche toqui from 1625 to 1631. After the death of Quepuantú in 1632 he became toqui once again from 1632 to 1634....
or Butapichún 1625-1631
- Quepuantú or Quempuante 1631-1632 †
- Butapichón
Butapichón or Butapichún or Putapichon was the Mapuche toqui from 1625 to 1631. After the death of Quepuantú in 1632 he became toqui once again from 1632 to 1634....
or Butapichún 1632-1634
- Huenucalquin 1634-1635 †
- Curanteo 1635 †
- Curimilla 1635-1639 †
- Lincopinchon 1640-1641
- Clentaru 1655
- Mestizo Alejo 1656-1661 @
- Misqui 1661-1663 †
- Colicheuque 1663 †
- Udalevi 1664-1665 †
- Calbuñancü vice toqui 1664-1665 †
- Ayllicuriche or Huaillacuriche 1672-1673 †
- Millalpal or Millapán 1692-1694
- Vilumilla
Vilumilla was the Mapuche Toqui elected in 1722 to lead the Mapuche Uprising of 1723 against the Spanish for their violation of the peace.The Mapuche resented the Spanish intruding into their territory and building forts, and also the insolence of those officials called capitan de amigos ,...
1722-1726
- Curiñancu 1766-1774
† Killed in battle or †† executed for rebellion or @
assassinatedAn Assassination is the targeted killing of a public figure.Assassinations may be prompted by ideological, political, or military reasons. Additionally, assassins may be motivated by financial gain, revenge, personal public recognition, or mental illness....
.
Sources
- Juan Ignatius Molina, The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili, Vol II., Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, 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.