Battle of Quilacura

Battle of Quilacura
Part of Arauco War
Date February 11, 1546
Location Quilacura[1] in the vicinity of the Bio-Bio River
Result Spanish Victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire Mapuche
Commanders and leaders
Pedro de Valdivia Malloquete [2]
Strength
60 Spanish soldiers, and many Yanaconas [3] 7-8,000 warriors according Valdivia, considered exaggerated, modern estimates 1,500-2,000[4]
Casualties and losses
6 Spaniards killed, 6 men wounded and 2 horses killed [5] up to 200 warriors and their leader Malloquete [6][7]
Arauco War

Battle of Quilacura was a battle in the Arauco War, fought at night, four leagues from the Bio-Bio River[8], between the Spanish expedition of Pedro de Valdivia and a force of Mapuche warriors led by Malloquete on February 11, 1546.

References

  1. ^ Vicente Carvallo y Goyeneche, Descripcion Histórico Geografía del Reino de Chile; Primera parte. Tomo I, Capítulo VI.
  2. ^ Jerónimo de Vivar, Crónica y relación copiosa y verdadera de los reinos de Chile, Capítulo LXVI
  3. ^ Valdivia, Carta, 15 de octubre de 1550 If historical numbers of Indian auxillaries with Spanish armies at the time is any guide, Valdivia had about 20 to each Spaniard, about 1200.
  4. ^ Valdivia, Carta, 15 de octubre de 1550
  5. ^ Valdivia, Carta
  6. ^ Valdivia, Carta, 15 de octubre de 1550 "y matamos muchos dellos y al capitán que los guiaba." (and we killed many of them and the captain who guided them.)
  7. ^ Vivar, Crónica, Capítulo LXVI, "y muertos el capitán Malloquete y hasta doscientos indios."
  8. ^ Valdivia, Carta, 15 de octubre de 1550 Valdivia says they traveled four leagues to the Bio-Bio River the day following the battle. Vivar, Crónica, Capítulo LXV, says his expedition was coming from the north having crossed the Itata River and Valdivia says they had traveled 10 leagues beyond when the battle occurred. Vivar says the following day they moved four leagues to the Andalien River valley and the bank of the Bio-Bio River, so presumably the battle site was north and east of the Bio-Bio. Lobera, Crónica del reino de Chile, Cap. XVII, says that Quilacura, is thirteen leagues from the modern seaport of Penco.

Sources