Portal:Chile/Selected biography/6

Lautaro (Mapudungun: Lef-Traru, Speedy Southern Caracara) was a Mapuche military leader and protagonist of the War of Arauco in Chile. He was able to defeat and exterminate the Spanish forces of Governor Pedro de Valdivia in the Battle of Tucapel in 1553. After the defeat at Tucapel, the Spanish hurriedly reorganized their forces, reinforcing fort Imperial for its defence and abandoning Confines and Arauco in order to strengthen Concepción.He later led the Mapuches once again into victory at the Battle of Marihueñu in 1554, but lost the Battle of Peteroa in 1556 and the Battle of Mataquito in 1557 in which he also died. The figure of Lautaro became important as a Mapuche war hero during the subsequent conflicts with the Spanish, and is also an important symbol for the modern Mapuche revindications.