Lautaro
Brief history of Lautaro
Lautaro was a prominent leader military mapuche in the war of Arauco during the first part of the conquest spanish of Chile.
A character that trasendido over time, which these days represents freedom and strength not to succumb to the domination of others.
He was son of the Cacique Araucanian Curiñanca, after being captured and server to Pedro de Valdivia , Governor of Chile, decided to escape and take charge of the resistance of the people against the Spanish conquerors. He leave to Valdivia in the torment .With these victories was increased its prestige, while the absence of a unified sowed disorder among the Spanish.
Leak of the Spanish camp
After learning about military tactics, escaped sometime in the year 1552 and also with the trumpet of Peter Godinez, teacher Valdivia field, returning to his people.
Lautaro proved natural resolve their innate leadership skills, taught his people to lose their fear of the horses, learned to ride and use the horse as a whole being, taking it as an extension to combat corporeal.
He convened Meetings in the open and taught military arts and use new weapons. So also designed a series of military tactics: the use of squads, proposed to be left Massive Attack and face them in blocks or successive, site selection, tactics and guerrilla ambushes. Thus, having the authority of the loncos, was elected toqui, commander in chief at war and led a military uprising against the Spanish, who wandered far across the field victorious between Valdivia and Biobío River.
Death of Lautaro
At dawn on April 30, 1557, Francisco de Villagra over his cousin John de Villagra, Diego Altamirano and 57 riders, five arquebusiers and 400 yanaconas, a relatively small force compared to at least 800 Mapuche who were at camp.
Villagra was advanced some yanaconas and they came back saying that there was no sentries, so that the camp was predicted at absolute rest. The Spanish came to the fort at dawn up his line of attack. He quietly said a few words about the value of their shares.
The form of attack was organized when a trumpet signal played impatient early.The Mapuches came out with their arms and shouting Villagra - Santiago and close Spain ahead! - they surprised the hosts lautarinas, creating confusion and flight.
They reached the hut where his wife was Lautaro Wacolda, thanks to Indian spies
Lautaro came with a sword in hand and was pierced in the door of a hut by a spear while his were taken by surprise and massacred. The Spanish joyfully shouted: - Spanish Here Lautaro is dead! - (1557).
To Lautaro, a notable figure disappears the Arauco War, no one came to meet the conditions of leader or his military genius, who was at the height of the great strategists of his time.
The Spanish casualties caused more than 650 Mapuche, and lost to Juan de Villagra (cousin of Francisco de Villagra) who died of a spear on the mouth, plus all the Castilians injured, over 200 more injured or killed yanaconas many horses. Lautaro's body was beaten, humiliated and dismembered alive for hours, his head was exhibited at the Plaza de Armas in Santiago long Spanish impaled on a spear.
