Battle of Angol

The Battle of Angol was a battle fought between the Mapuche and the Spanish Empire on 25 March 1564 as part of Arauco War.

Battle of Angol
Part of the Arauco War
DateMarch 25, 1564[1]
Location
Vicinity of Los Infantes, Chile
Result Spanish Victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire Mapuche
Commanders and leaders
Lorenzo Bernal del Mercado Illangulién †
Strength
60 Spanish soldiers (including 12 arqubusiers and a field gun)
500 Indian auxiliaries[2]		 4,000 warriors[3]
Casualties and losses
No dead, many wounded[2] 1,000 killed, many more wounded and many captured[2]

In Los Infantes captain Lorenzo Bernal del Mercado had discovered that the rebels had constructed a pukara close by, establishing a blockade of the city, additionally natives under the toqui Illangulién had chosen an impregnable position in a marsh. A Mapuche detachment located themselves in a third position awaiting reinforcements from their main body at the old position. Seeing that this position was weak the Spanish engaged this position. In the battle the Spanish drove the Mapuche out of their pukara and pursued them down to the river bank and drove them into the river, where they were trapped and 1,000 Mapuches were killed, including the toqui Illanguelén.

History

In Los Infantes captain Lorenzo Bernal del Mercado had discovered that the rebels had constructed a pukara close by, establishing a blockade of the city. Lorenzo Bernal ordered a reconnaissance patrol and he observed that the natives under the toqui Illangulién had chosen an impregnable position in a marsh and chose to retire. Illangulién's troops then moved to a second position, nearer to Angol, to which captain Lorenzo Bernal responded with a new reconnaissance.

Finding that this new position also was impregnable he again retired. Feeling victorious and believing the destruction of Angol was imminent, a Mapuche detachment located themselves in a third position awaiting reinforcements from their main body at the old position. This time, seeing their dangerous proximity to Los Infantes, captain Bernal chose to attack the position before more Mapuches arrived. In the battle the Spanish drove the Mapuche out of their pukara and pursued them down to the river bank and drove them into the river, where they were trapped and 1,000 Mapuches were killed, including the toqui Illanguelén, and many more were wounded or captured. Bernal ordered some of the captives killed and others lost hands or feet. When the news reached the rest of the Mapuche army coming to attack Angol, they dispersed.[2]

References
  1. Lobera, Crónica del Reino de Chile, Capítulo XXII
  2. Marmolejo, Historia..., Capítulo XLVI
  3. Marmolejo, Historia..., Capítulo XLVI, Lobera, Crónica..., Capítulo XXII, says 8,000

Sources
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