CAUPOLICN

also spelled Quepolicn born 16th century, , Palmaiqun, Chile died 1558, Caete Mapuche chief and a leader of the Indian resistance to the Spanish invaders of Chile. With the assistance of Lautaro, another Mapuche, Caupolicn and his men captured the Spaniards' leader, Pedro de Valdivia, after a battle at Tucapel in December 1553. Reportedly, Caupolicn attempted but failed to save Valdivia from torture and execution (January 1554). In April 1557 Lautaro was defeated and executed by an army led by Francisco de Villagrn at Mataquito, leaving Caupolicn in sole command of the Indian resistance. After an initial victory against Villagrn, Caupolicn suffered three disastrous routs at the hands of forces led by Don Garca Hurtado de Mendoza, losing more than 6,000 men in one of the defeats. Caupolicn retreated to the mountains near Caete, where he was finally captured by Capt. Alonso de Reinoso and barbarously murdered in 1558. Although Caupolicn was a man of great skill and valour, his fame rests primarily on the verses dedicated to him by the poet Alonso de Ercilla y Ziga in his long poem La Araucana. The poet was with the army of Mendoza and apparently witnessed firsthand the deeds of the Mapuche chief.