Battle of Tucapel

Battle of Tucapel
Part of Arauco War
DateDecember 25, 1553
Location
Vicinity of fort of Tucapel
Result Mapuche victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire Mapuche
Commanders and leaders
Pedro de Valdivia  Executed Toqui Caupolicán
vice toqui Lautaro
Strength
55 Spanish soldiers[1]
2,000–5,000 yanakuna
more than 50,000 warriors according to Spanish sources, considered exaggerated, modern estimations 10,000[2]
Casualties and losses
All 55 Spaniards killed
most of the yanaconas killed
Unknown, but not small[3]
Pedro de Valdivia

The Battle of Tucapel (also known as the Disaster of Tucapel[citation needed]) is the name given to a battle fought between Spanish conquistador forces led by Pedro de Valdivia and Mapuche (Araucanian) Indians under Lautaro that took place at Tucapel, Chile on December 25, 1553. The battle occurred in the context of the first stage of the Arauco War, named the "offensive war" within a larger uprising by Araucanians against the Spanish conquest of Chile. It was a defeat for the Spaniards, resulting in the capture and eventual death of Valdivia.

  1. ^ Vivar, Capítulo CXV.
  2. ^ Vivar, Capítulo CXV "más de cincuenta mil indios"; Marmolejo, Capítulo XIV "cincuenta mill indios y más"; Lobera, Capítulo XLIII "ciento y cincuenta mil"; Diego de Roslaes, Vol. 1, Libro III Cap. XXXV, "veinte mil indios"
  3. ^ Lobera, Crónica del Reino de Chile, Capítulo XLIII, Lobera names several famous araucanos captains that died in the battle: Triponcio, Gameande, Alcanabal, Manguié, Curilen, Layan, Ayanquete and others of much fame.