Lautaro

Timeline

1. c. 1534–1552Araucanía · AraucaníaHis Mapuche name was Levtraru, rendered Lautaro in Spanish sources. Captured as a youth by Valdivia's men, he served in the stables and was baptized, thus seeing cavalry maneuvers, firearms, and camp weaknesses firsthand, dispelling the myth of horses' invincibility. He fled south around the early 1550s to return to the Mapuche.
2. c. 1552–1555Tucapel · Biobío RegionAfter escaping he taught ambush tactics, breaking up cavalry, and using terrain to various bands, coordinating with chiefs such as Caupolicán. In December 1553 he destroyed the fortress at Tucapel and annihilated the relief force led by Valdivia, who was captured and executed. He again defeated the Spanish at Marihueñu in 1554, but plague and famine then stalled the offensive.
3. 1556–1557Mataquito · Maule RegionIn 1556–1557 he led his forces north along the Central Valley, trying to threaten Santiago and cut Spanish supply lines. Francisco de Villagra located the camp and launched a surprise attack at dawn on April 29, 1557 near the Mataquito River; Lautaro was killed and his head later sent to Santiago for display. His deeds were widely spread through Ercilla's epic La Araucana.