Toqui

Toqui

Toqui

Mapuche leader in times of war


Toqui (or Toki) (Mapudungun for axe or axe-bearer) is a title conferred by the Mapuche (an indigenous Chilean and Argentinian[1] people) on those chosen as leaders during times of war. The toqui is chosen in an assembly or parliament (coyag) of the chieftains (loncos) of various clans (Rehues) or confederation of clans (Aillarehues), allied during the war at hand. The toqui commanded strict obedience of all the warriors and their loncos during the war, would organize them into units and appoint leaders over them. This command would continue until the toqui was killed, abdicated (Cayancaru), was deposed in another parliament (as in the case of Lincoyan, for poor leadership), or upon completion of the war for which he was chosen.

Toqui Lautaro, painting by Pedro Subercaseaux.

Some of the more famous Toqui in the Arauco War with the Spanish introduced tactical innovations. For example, Lautaro introduced infantry tactics to defeat horsemen. Lemucaguin was the first Toqui to use firearms and artillery in battle. Nongoniel was the first Toqui to use cavalry with the Mapuche army. Cadeguala was the first to successfully use Mapuche cavalry to defeat Spanish cavalry in battle. Anganamón was the first to mount his infantry to keep up with his fast-moving cavalry. Lientur pioneered the tactic of numerous and rapid malóns into Spanish territory.

The greatest of the Toqui was the older Paillamachu, who developed the strategy, patiently organized and trained his forces and then with his two younger Vice Toqui, Pelantaro and Millacolquin, carried out the Great Revolt of 1598–1604 which finally expelled the Spanish from Araucania.

List of Mapuche Toquis

Probable standard of the Toqui, based on representations.

The following Mapuche leaders were at some time named as toquis:[2]

† Killed in battle or †† executed for rebellion or @ assassinated.


References

  1. Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. ""Argentina se fundó sobre un genocidio contra los mapuches" | DW | 22.08.2017". DW.COM (in European Spanish). Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  2. Jerónimo de Vivar, Crónica y relación copiosa y verdadera de los reinos de Chile, Capítulo LXVI
  3. Vivar, Crónica..., Cap. XCV,XCVII
  4. Pedro Mariño de Lobera, Crónica del Reino de Chile., Cap. XXXI
  5. Rosales, Historia general ..., Tomo II, CAPÍTULO XXI
  6. Juan Ignacio Molina, The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili, Vol II, Book III, Chap. VIII
  7. Alonso de Góngora Marmolejo, Historia de Todas las Cosas que han Acaecido en el Reino de Chile y de los que lo han gobernado (1536–1575), Capítulo XLVI
  8. Lobera, CRÓNICA DEL REINO DE CHILE, Libro Segundo, Capítulo XXII
  9. Rosales, "Historia General del Reino de Chile", Flandes Indiano, Tomo II, Cap. XXX
  10. Molina, The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili, Volume II, Book IV, Chap. 1
  11. Góngora Marmolejo, Historia..., Capítulo XLV, Cap. XXXVI
  12. Rosales, Historia general de el Reyno de Chile, Flandes Indiano, Tomo II
  13. Molina, The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili, pg. 207–208
  14. Góngora Marmolejo, Historia..., Capítulo XLV
  15. Molina, The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili, pg. 211
  16. According to Rosales, Historia..., Tomo II, Capítulo LI, pg. 221.
  17. Carvallo,Descripcion Histórico...
  18. Lobera calls him Diego Díaz, Crónica..., Libro tercero, Parte tercera, Capítulo XXXII; Rosales and Carvallo call him Alonso Diaz
  19. Diego de Rosales, Historia..., Tomo II, Capítulo LI
  20. Rosales, Historia ... , Tomo II, CAPÍTULO LII
  21. Lobera, Crónica ..., Cap. XXXV
  22. Gay, Historia ... , Tomo II, Cap. XXXII.
  23. José Ignacio Víctor Eyzaguirre, Historia eclesiastica: Politica y literaria de Chile, Impr. del Comercio, Valpraiso, 1850. pg. 498.
  24. Rosales, Historia general ..., Tomo II
  25. Francisco Núñez de Pineda y Bascuñán, El Cautiverio Feliz; Molina, The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili
  26. Carvallo, Descripcion histórico..., TOMO I; Coleccion de historiadores de Chile, Tomo VIII, IMPRENTA DE LA LIBRERÍA DEL MERCURIO de A. y M. Echeverria, Morando Núm. 38., Santiago,1878
  27. Molina, The Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chili, p.234
  28. Gay, Historia fisica y politica de Chile, Tomo III, CAPITULO XXVII
  29. Pedro de Cordoba y Figueroa, HISTORIA DE CHILE (1492–1717)
  30. Claudio Gay, Historia fisica y politica de Chile, Toma IV, Primera parte, Capítulo XVIII, En casa del autor, 1848, p. 223

Sources


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