Arauco War

Arauco War
	Part of the Spanish colonization of the Americas
	; Map of Araucanía from the 18th century, showing much of the territory where the war was fought
Date	Historiographic divergence: 1546 – until the end of the 17th century; and sporadically the 18th century; 1550–1662 (112 years); 1550–1656 (106 years);
Location	Araucanía region and surrounding regions of the Captaincy General of Chile (present-day Chile)
Result	Spanish invasion of Araucanía permanently reversed around 1600; Gradual Spanish reestablishment of rule south of Araucanía from 1645 to 1796; Failure of the Spanish evangelization strategy in Araucanía; Stabilization of frontiers, development of Mapuche–Spanish diplomacy and trade since the mid-17th century;
Belligerents
Spanish Empire Captaincy General of Chile; Viceroyalty of Peru (from 1557); Mapuche allies	Mapuche groups: Moluches; Nagches; Lafquenches; Pehuenches; Huilliches; Cuncos; Dutch Republic
Commanders and leaders
Pedro de Valdivia ; Francisco de Villagra; García de Mendoza; Rodrigo de Quiroga; Alonso de Sotomayor; Martín O. de Loyola †; Alonso de Ramón; Alonso de Ribera; Francisco de Vega; Pedro Casanate; Gabriel de Aponte; and others	Ainavillo; Lautaro †; Caupolicán ; Colocolo; Galvarino ; Millalelmo; Loble; Pelantaru; Anganamón; Lientur; Butapichón; Alejo; Vilumilla; Curiñancu; and others
Strength
Spanish forces: Spanish conquest companies (until 1557); Local detachments and recruits from other regions (1557–1604); Army of Arauco (1604 onward); Indian auxiliaries: Yanaconas; Indios reyunos;	Mapuche warriors
Casualties and losses
1536–1662; 29,000 Spanish military dead; 60,000 Indian and mestizo auxiliaries dead	1536–1662; 200,000 total dead

The Arauco War was a long-running conflict between colonial Spaniards and the Mapuche people, mostly fought in the Araucanía region of Chile. The conflict began at first as a reaction by the Mapuche to the Spanish conquerors attempting to establish cities and force the natives into servitude. It subsequently evolved over time into phases comprising drawn-out sieges, slave-hunting expeditions, pillaging raids, punitive expeditions, and renewed Spanish attempts to secure lost territories. Abduction of women and war rape was common on both sides.

The Spaniards penetrated into Mapuche territory during the conquest of Chile in the 16th century. They were stopped at the Battle of Curalaba in 1598 and the destruction of the Seven Cities. Afterward the two forces established a clear frontier between the Spanish domains and the land of the independent Mapuche. From the 17th to the late 18th century the Mapuche lonkos and Spanish royal governors held a serries of parliaments. The war devolved to sporadic pillaging carried out by both sides.

In the words of Philip II, this conflict cost the largest number of Spanish lives in the New World. It became known as the Flandes indiano ("Indian Flanders"), in reference to the Eighty Years' War in Europe.