Contested Nation: The Mapuche, Bandits, and State Formation in Nineteenth-Century Chile

169 Pages·2019·5.78 MB·English

by  Pilar M. Herr

Contested Nation

Contested Nation
Th e Mapuche, Bandits, and State Formation in
Nineteenth-Century Chile
Pilar M. Herr
University of New Mexico Press (cid:2) Albuquerque
© 2019 by the University of New Mexico Press
All rights reserved. Published 2019
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 978-0-8263-6094-6 (cloth)
ISBN 978-0-8263-6095-3 (electronic)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019950235
Cover illustration: “Mapa de una parte de Chile que comprende el terreno
donde pasaron los famosos hechos entre españoles y araucanos” by
Tomás López de Vargas, 1777. Collection Biblioteca Nacional de Chile.

Designed by Felicia Cedillos
contents
acknowledgments vii
chapter one. Introduction 1
chapter two. The Legal Formation of the Chilean State 17
chapter three. “Enemies” of the State: The Pincheira Montonera 41
chapter four. Mapuche Alliances 59
chapter five. Parlamentos 75
chapter six. Notions of Chilean Citizenship 97
chapter seven. Concluding Thoughts 115
appendix. Parlamentos 1825 and After 119
notes 121
bibliography 135
index 149
v

acknowledgments
Writing this book has been a journey in itself. First, I’d like to thank my
colleagues and friends at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (Pitt–
Greensburg), who in separate ways encouraged me. Sayre Greensfield,
thanks for the many conversations; Stacey Triplette and Bill Campbell,
thanks for reading portions; Eric Kimball, without you, the history program
wouldn’t be as strong as it is; Nancy Estrada, Anne Czerwinski, Lipika
Mazumdar, and Jackie Horrall, thanks for the many conversations, laughter,
tears, and your friendship. Second, I’m grateful for the many talented under-
graduate students at Pitt–Greensburg I have had the pleasure to teach for the
past two decades, many of whom provided suggestions over the years. A
special thanks go to my exceptional undergraduate research assistants James
Weir and Alex Fell.
Professional colleagues also aided me in this endeavor, and I’d like to
especially thank Owen H. Jones and John Bawden for helpful encourage-
ment in dark times; Bryan DeLay for inviting me to present at the American
Historical Association conference and quietly encouraging me to write the
book; David A. Nichols for reading an early draft; and Peter Guardino and
Erick D. Langer, who have believed in this project since the beginning.
Thank you to the many helpful archivists of the Archivo Nacional de
Chile in Santiago for their assistance in obtaining valuable primary source
materials; thanks to the reviewers who provided invaluable advice and
vii
viii acknowledgments
suggestions; and thank you W. Clark Whitehorn at University of New Mex-
ico Press for your willingness to support my project.
I’d like to thank my parents and sister, as well as my extended family in
Chile, for lots of hugs, words of advice, laughter, and love. Lastly, I dedicate
this book to my husband, Andy, and my daughters, Sofia and Clara. Without
them, this book would not exist.
chapter one
Introduction
on november 25, 1825, the pincheira brothers and their
Pehuenche allies set out to raid Parral, a town outside the city of Chillán,
located near the Andes cordillera (mountain range) deep in Araucanía,
Chile’s southern borderlands. Federal infantry guarding the area saw them
approach and successfully repelled their attack. While making their escape,
the Pincheiras counterattacked, killing the captain and fi fty-two soldiers,
leaving only eighteen to fl ee. Although on this occasion the Pincheiras’ men
were unable to capture any loot or women, on countless otherraids they were
successful, netting a considerable economic profi t for themselves as well as a
reputation for ferocity, criminality, and cruelty. Incidents such as this one
became so commonplace that “the bandits considered themselves owners of
the area[s] [pillaged]” and killed anyone who opposed them.1
Ten years earlier, el Libertador Simón Bolívar had praised Chile, claiming,
If any American republic is to have a long life, I am inclined to believe
it will be Chile. Th ere the spirit of liberty has never been extinguished;
the vices of Europe and Asia arrived too late or not at all to corrupt
the customs of that distant corner of the world. Its area is limited;
and, as it is remote from other peoples, it will always remain free from
contamination. Chile will not alter her laws, ways, and practices. She
will preserve her uniform political and religious views. In a word, it is
possible for Chile to be free.2
1