Lautaro

Lore & Background

At age 11 he was captured by the Spaniards and forced into servitude by Pedro de Valdivia, becoming his personal servant. The Spaniards gave him the name Felipe Lautaro. He learned military ways by observation and witnessed atrocities committed by the Spaniards on captive Mapuche warriors, including the cutting off of feet and hands of his own parents. After the victory at Tucapel, Mapuche tradition dictated a lengthy victory celebration, which kept Lautaro from pursuing the advantage. His head was cut off and displayed in the plaza of Santiago.

Reader's Guide

Lautaro's significance lies in his transformation from a captured servant of the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia into a military leader who nearly expelled the Spanish from central Chile. By observing Spanish tactics and learning to ride horses, he overcame the Mapuche's fear of cavalry and introduced effective countermeasures. His legacy endures as a symbol of indigenous resistance, and his tactics influenced the Mapuche's long-running Arauco War. The article notes that he is revered among Mapuche and non-Mapuche Chileans and Argentinians for his resistance against foreign conquest, servitude and cruelty.

Did You Know?

• Lautaro's original name was Leftraru, meaning 'swift hawk' in Mapudungun.
• He spent his teenage years as a personal servant and stableman for conquistador Pedro de Valdivia.