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Mapuche uprising of 1881

The last major rebellion of the indigenous Mapuches of Araucanía took place in 1881, during the last phase of the Occupation of Araucanía (1861–1883) by the Chilean state. It was planned by Mapuche chiefs in March 1881 to be launched in November the same year. Mapuche support for the uprising was not unanimous: Some Mapuche factions sided with the Chileans and others declared themselves neutral. The organizers of the uprising did however succeed in involving Mapuche factions that had not previously been at war with Chile. With most of the attacks repelled within a matters of days Chile went on the next years to consolidate its conquests.

Background
In the 19th century Chile experienced a fast territorial expansion. Chile established a colony at the Strait of Magellan in 1843, settled Valdivia, Osorno and Llanquihue with German immigrants and conquered land from Peru and Bolivia. Later Chile would also annex Easter Island. In this context Araucanía began to be conquered by Chile due to two reasons. First, the Chilean state aimed for territorial continuity and second it remained the sole place for Chilean agriculture to expand. Between 1861 and 1871 Chile incorporated several Mapuche territories in Araucanía. In January 1881, having decisively defeated Peru in the battles of Chorrillos and Miraflores, Chile resumed the conquest of Araucanía. The campaigns of the Argentine Army against Mapuches in the other side of the Andes pushed in 1880 many Mapuches into Araucanía. Pehuenche chief Purrán was taken prisoner by the Argentine Army and the Argentine Army penetrated into the valley of Lonquimay which Chile considered part of its legal territory. ==Pre-uprising events==
Pre-uprising events
In January 1881 the Mapuches of the Malleco zone rose against the Chilean occupation. In response the Chilean state launched a massive campaign not only to defend forts and settlements but also to push the frontier all the way from Malleco River to Cautín River. With the Chilean advance to Cautín River a small mountain range called Cadena de Ñielol remained a focus of Mapuche resistance from where warriors launched pillaging raids or attacks against vulnerable targets. To end this activity Gregorio Urrutia established a fort in the range. Recabarren believed that Mapuches had not reacted because they expected the foundation of new forts and towns to be preceded by parliaments with Chilean authorities. The first major attack was against a caravan of carts carrying injured soldiers from Temuco to Fuerte Ñielol. On the other side of the Andes Pehuenches assaulted on March the Argentine outpost of Chos Malal killing the whole garrison of 25–30 soldiers. ==Planning of the uprising==
Planning of the uprising
In mid-March Venacio Coñoepán and other Mapuche chiefs met. In the meeting the establishment of new settlements was rejected and the chiefs decided to go to war. They set 5 November as the date for their uprising. Coñoepán opposed the uprising and according to Gregorio Urrutia he was unaware of date of uprising. ==Course of the uprising==
Course of the uprising
During the uprising several Chilean forts and towns were attacked. Quillem and Lumaco A group of Arribanos attacked the fort of Quillem on the wrong date, November 3, by mistake. After Chilean reinforcements arrived to Lumaco Mapuches retreated, and waited to hear news of the uprising elsewhere. Nueva Imperial In Nueva Imperial suspicious Mapuche movements were noticed on November 6 and telegraphs were sent seeking help from Valdivia and Lebu. The town of Nueva Imperial was attacked on November 7. Defenders fled to the hills and the settlement was effectively destroyed. The coast In the coastal region the mission of Puerto Saavedra was attacked. The town of Toltén was defended by the Mapuches of Budi Lake who sided with Chile. From Toltén Chile sent 50 militiamen to fight Mapuche rebels. In Toltén as well as in San José de la Mariquina most women were sent to the city of Valdivia as men prepared for hostilities. Chileans and German settlers dug defensive trenches around San José de la Mariquina. At the moment of the uprising it was even thought that rebels could reach Valdivia in the south if they succeeded in penetrating San José de la Mariquina. Costino warriors, after having contributed to the destruction of Imperial and the engagements at Toltén, advanced north to Arauco. Around Tirúa Costino warriors suffered heavy casualties in two engagements with a group of more than 400 armed settlers and campesinos plus some soldiers. From there Coñoepán contributed to the defence. After the Mapuche failure at Ñielol Chilean troops and Coñoepáns warriors were sent to Temuco that was still being under siege. Uprising Mapuches numbered 1,400 to 4,000 depending on source. The remaining Mapuches unsuccessfully attacked the fort, believing it was almost empty. ==Aftermath==
Aftermath
Uprising Mapuche chiefs were severely punished. When Gregorio Urrutia arrived to Cholchol on November 10 he ordered the construction of a fort in the place of the ruka of chief Ancamilla who had joined the uprising. By doing this Urrutia fulfilled an old vow: Ancamilla was taken prisoner and sent handcuffed to a dungeon in Poblete. The rukas of other revolting chiefs were also razed. Luis Marileo Colipí who had allegedly attacked Lumaco was stripped of the more than 6,000 ha land he owned near Purén and his brother was taken prisoner and killed. Luis Marileo Colipí managed to escape to Argentina. Little is known about his whereabouts there. ==References==
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