La historia de la llegada de los Españoles, la conquista de América y el encuentro con el imperio Inca. El descubrimiento y conquista de Chile y la eterna guerra de Arauco (The history of the Spanish arrival and conquest of South America. The Spaniards encounter with the Inca Empire. The discovery and conquest of Chile, and the never ending Arauco Wars). |
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When the Spanish landed in South America, most of the region was under dominion of the Inca Empire. The Chief Priest carries a gold image of the sun, followed by another priest with sacred offerings.
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Inca Emperor, Atahualpa, goes to receive the conquistador, Francisco Pizarro at the Inca city of Cajamarca. Pizarro took him prisoner. The imprisoned Emperor offers to fill a room with gold if they let him go free. Despite giving the gold, the Emperor was kept captive. Ten months later he was acused of conspriacy, and executed. |
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Pedro de Valdivia was born in La Serena, Spain. He was the son of a poor family, and became a soldier to find adventure, and fortune. He fought in Flandes before his arrival in America. He fought as Francisco Pizarro's field master in the Civil War in Peru at the time. After that, he ask to Pizarro to go to the unknown lands to the South.
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In the earlier years of the Chilean conquest, Alonso de Ercilla y Zuñiga, a poet and soldier, wrote an epic poem called "La Araucana" the song of the native peoples to fight in defense of their lands, and freedom.
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The Spanish soldier was very protected with his armour. He used to use a metal helmut, and a metalic shirt-front. The mounted soldiers used complete body armour.
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On the 12th of February, 1541, Pedro de Valdivia founded the city of Santiago del Nuevo Extremo in nearby Huelen hill (Renamed by the Spaniards: Hill of San Cristobal)
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The horses, and weapons brought by the Spanish caused fear and surprise to the aboriginal peoples. This was a significant advantage to the Conquistadors in determining a battle's results. But it wasn`t to be like that all the time. The Araucanos soon learned ways to throw the horses, and make the weapons useless. Later, cannons appeared among the Spanish that were very important in equalizing large numbers of natives.
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Caupolican, a native Cacique, won fame in a vigorous competition. During three days, and two nights he supported a large tree trunk over his shoulder: becoming Chief, because he was the strongest man around. Later, he was captured by the Spaniards, and sentenced to die, empaled.
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Lautaro was the most prominant leader of the Araucanos. In his youth, he was a personal stable servant of Pedro de Valdivia. He learned about horses, and the way to use them for the war.
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Later, when he became the Araucanos´s leader, he taught his people to ride, and fight using horses. One night while he, and his warriors were asleep the camp was attacked and the great warrior was murdered.
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To terrify to the natives, the spaniards became extremely cruel. Galvarino, another Araucano Cacique, suffered the amputation of his both hands to inflict punishment as an example to the other chiefs that were fighting against Spanish conquest.
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After he found Santiago, Pedro de Valdivia went to the Southern regions. Exploring the new lands, he and his soldiers were surprised in a trap prepared by Lautaro. The conquistador was dismounted, and killed.
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For 300 years, natives and Spaniards fought the Arauco´s War. Sometimes there was peace, and then the struggle began again.
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