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Spanish forces ambush and kill Mapuche commander Lautaro at the Battle of Mataqu
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April 30

Lautaro Falls: Spanish Conquest Halts in Chile

Spanish forces ambush and kill Mapuche commander Lautaro at the Battle of Mataquito, shattering the momentum of his guerrilla campaign against colonial rule. This loss forces the Mapuche to retreat into a prolonged defensive war that eventually secures their autonomy over much of southern Chile for centuries.

April 30, 1557

469 years ago

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