Battle of Penco

Battle of Penco
Part of Arauco War
DateMarch 12, 1550
Location
Vicinity of Penco
Result Spanish Victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire Mapuche
Commanders and leaders
Pedro de Valdivia Toqui Ainavillo
Strength

200 Spanish soldiers:

  • 100 cavalry
  • 100 infantry[1]

Many natives[2]

60,000-80,000 warriors, considered exaggerated, modern estimates 15,000-20,000[5]
Casualties and losses
some wounded 4,000 killed[6]
200 captured[7]

The Battle of Penco took place on March 12, 1550, between 60,000 Mapuche under the command of their toqui Ainavillo with his Araucan and Tucapel allies and Pedro de Valdivia's 200 Spaniards on horse and afoot with many yanakuna including 300 Mapochoes auxiliaries under their leader Michimalonco, defending their newly raised fort at Penco. It was part of the Arauco war.

  1. ^ Valdivia, Carta, 15 de octubre de 1550
  2. ^ Lobera, Crónica del Reino de Chile, Cap. XXXI,
  3. ^ Marmolejo, Historia de Chile Cap. X
  4. ^ Lobera, Crónica, Cap. XXXIII,
  5. ^ Vivar, Crónica, Capítulo XCVII ; Lobera, Crónica, Cap. XXXI, Ainavillo's division from the local provinces North of the Bio-Bio River: "Ñuble, Itata, Renoguelen, Guachimavida, Marcande, Gualqui, Penco and Talcaguano." ; Lobera, Crónica, Capítulo XXXIII, the other divisions of the army were araucanos y tucapelinos
  6. ^ Lobera, Crónica del Reino de Chile, Cap. XXXIII
  7. ^ Vivar, Crónica, Capítulo XCVII