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. Because of his ability to slip back and forth over the Spanish border between its fortresses and patrols and raid deep into Spanish territory north of the Bio-Bio River without losses he was called the Wizard by the Spanish.
In 1625 his successor Butapichón was elected when he resigned his office when he felt himself to be too old and tired to continue as before.[1] However a cacique named Lientur continued to lead troops in the field.[2] He was present leading troops at the Battle of Las Cangrejeras.[3] A cacique of that name also participated in the Parliament of Quillín in 1641.
- ^ Vicente Carvallo y Goyeneche,Descripcion histórico..., TOMO I, CAPITULO CVII.
- ^ So says a contemporary, Diego de Rosales, Historia general de el Reyno de Chile, Flandes Indiano, Tomo III, Libro VII, Cap. XII; however the later writer Vicente Carvallo y Goyeneche,Descripcion histórico..., TOMO I, CAPITULO CVIII, identifies him as the grandson of Lientur.
- ^ According to Rosales, Historia..., Tomo III, Libro VII, Cap. XII; and Francisco Nuñes de Piñeda y Bascuñan, in his Cautiverio Feliz. Nuñes de Piñeda was a participant in the battle, was captured and spent some time as a captive with the Mapuche.