Orelie-Antoine I of Araucania and Patagonia
Encyclopedia
Orélie-Antoine de Tounens (May 12, 1825 – September 17, 1878) was a French
lawyer
, and adventurer, who assumed the title of King of the Araucanía and Patagonia. It is disputed whether Tounens was a self-proclaimed king or was elected by a group of loncos (Mapuche
chieftains).
, Dordogne
. He moved to Coquimbo in Chile
in 1858 and spent two years in Valparaíso
and Santiago
, studying Spanish and forming social connections. Later he moved to Valdivia
where he met two French merchants, Lachaise and Desfontaines. He explained his plans to them about founding a French colony in the Araucanía, a territory until then abandoned and apparently irrelevant to the Chilean state. 1860 he moved to Araucanía among the Mapuche
Indians who, at the time, were de facto independent.
Based on his experience as a lawyer, De Tounens claimed that the area did not belong to recently independent Chile or Argentina
, so he wanted to create an independent state south of the Biobio River. November 17, 1860 he signed a declaration of Araucanían independence in the farm of French settler F. Desfontaine, who became his "foreign minister". And with an assembly of the chieftains of the various tribes of the territory known as "Araucanía" was voted a constitutional monarch by the tribal leaders. He created a national hymn, a flag
, wrote a constitution, appointed ministers of agriculture, education, and defense (among other offices), and had coins minted for his kingdom. Later, a tribal leader from Patagonia approached him with the desire to become part of the kingdom. Patagonia
was therefore united to his kingdom as well. He sent copies of the constitution to Chilean newspapers and El Mercurio
published a portion of it on December 29, 1860. De Tounens returned to Valparaíso to wait for the representatives of the Chilean government. They primarily ignored him. He also attempted to involve the French government in his idea, but the French consul, after making some inquiries, came to the conclusion that Tounens was insane.
De Tounens returned to Araucanía where many Mapuche tribes were again preparing to fight the incursions of the Chilean Army
during the occupation of Araucanía. In 1862 De Tounens proceeded to visit other tribes as well. However, his servant, Juan Bautista Rosales, contacted Chilean authorities who had de Tounens arrested. They put him on trial and were going to send him into an insane asylum when the French consulate intervened and he was deported
to France.
De Tounens remained defiant and published his memoirs in 1863. In 1869 he sailed back to Araucanía through Buenos Aires
. The Mapuche were surprised to see him because Chileans had told them that they had executed him. De Tounens proceeded to reorganize his realm and again attracted attention of the Chilean authorities. Colonel Cornelio Saavedra Rodríguez
promised a reward for his head but the Mapuche decided to defend their unusual ally.
De Tounens ran out of money in 1871 and had to return to France, where he published a second set of his memoirs. He also founded an Araucanian newspaper La Corona de Acero ("Iron Crown"). In 1872 he also proclaimed that he was seeking a bride so he could sire an heir. In 1873 he wrote to his brother that he intended to marry mademoiselle de Percy, but there is no evidence this ever happened.
In 1874 de Tounens tried again to return to his kingdom, this time with some arms and ammunition he was able to muster up with the feeble support of a few entrepreneurs in Europe. Because he was persona non grata
in Chile, he traveled with a false passport. However, he was recognized as soon as he landed in Bahía Blanca
(in the coast of Argentina
) in July 1874 and was again summarily deported back to France.
De Tounens tried to return again in 1876. However, local settlers robbed him on his way to Patagonia and handed him over to Chilean authorities. He also fell badly ill and had to go through an operation to survive. His health did not allow him to continue his journey and he had to return to France.
Orélie-Antoine de Tounens died September 17, 1878 in Tourtoirac
, France
.
to recognize Araucanian autonomy. Upon Laviarde's death 1902, Antoine-Hippolyte Cros inherited the title as Antoine II. Later it was transferred to Antoine III, who handed the title over to current holder, Prince Philippe, in 1950.
Current heir Philippe, who lives in France, has spoken on behalf of the Mapuche tribe on occasion. There is also the North American Araucanian Royalist Society (NAARS), a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1995. No sovereign state has recognized the kingdom.
His life is described in books Moi, Antoine de Tounens, roi de Patagonie (Me, Antoine of Tounens, King of Patagonia) (1981) by Jean Raspail
and In Patagonia
by Bruce Chatwin
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and adventurer, who assumed the title of King of the Araucanía and Patagonia. It is disputed whether Tounens was a self-proclaimed king or was elected by a group of loncos (Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
chieftains).
Early life
Orélie-Antoine de Tounens was born May 12, 1825 in ChourgnacChourgnac
Chourgnac is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:...
, Dordogne
Dordogne
Dordogne is a départment in south-west France. The départment is located in the region of Aquitaine, between the Loire valley and the High Pyrénées named after the great river Dordogne that runs through it...
. He moved to Coquimbo in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in 1858 and spent two years in Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
and Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, studying Spanish and forming social connections. Later he moved to Valdivia
Valdivia, Chile
Valdivia is a city and commune in southern Chile administered by the Municipality of Valdivia. The city is named after its founder Pedro de Valdivia and is located at the confluence of the Calle-Calle, Valdivia and Cau-Cau Rivers, approximately east of the coastal towns of Corral and Niebla...
where he met two French merchants, Lachaise and Desfontaines. He explained his plans to them about founding a French colony in the Araucanía, a territory until then abandoned and apparently irrelevant to the Chilean state. 1860 he moved to Araucanía among the Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
Indians who, at the time, were de facto independent.
Creation of new state
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, so he wanted to create an independent state south of the Biobio River. November 17, 1860 he signed a declaration of Araucanían independence in the farm of French settler F. Desfontaine, who became his "foreign minister". And with an assembly of the chieftains of the various tribes of the territory known as "Araucanía" was voted a constitutional monarch by the tribal leaders. He created a national hymn, a flag
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
, wrote a constitution, appointed ministers of agriculture, education, and defense (among other offices), and had coins minted for his kingdom. Later, a tribal leader from Patagonia approached him with the desire to become part of the kingdom. Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
was therefore united to his kingdom as well. He sent copies of the constitution to Chilean newspapers and El Mercurio
El Mercurio
El Mercurio is a conservative Chilean newspaper with editions in Valparaíso and Santiago. Its Santiago edition is considered the country's paper-of-record and its Valparaíso edition is the oldest daily in the Spanish language currently in circulation. El Mercurio is owned by El Mercurio S.A.P...
published a portion of it on December 29, 1860. De Tounens returned to Valparaíso to wait for the representatives of the Chilean government. They primarily ignored him. He also attempted to involve the French government in his idea, but the French consul, after making some inquiries, came to the conclusion that Tounens was insane.
De Tounens returned to Araucanía where many Mapuche tribes were again preparing to fight the incursions of the Chilean Army
Chilean Army
The Chilean Army is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 45,000-person army is organized into seven divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade....
during the occupation of Araucanía. In 1862 De Tounens proceeded to visit other tribes as well. However, his servant, Juan Bautista Rosales, contacted Chilean authorities who had de Tounens arrested. They put him on trial and were going to send him into an insane asylum when the French consulate intervened and he was deported
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
to France.
Later life
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. The Mapuche were surprised to see him because Chileans had told them that they had executed him. De Tounens proceeded to reorganize his realm and again attracted attention of the Chilean authorities. Colonel Cornelio Saavedra Rodríguez
Cornelio Saavedra Rodríguez
Cornelio Saavedra Rodríguez was a Chilean politician and military figure who played a major role in the Occupation of the Araucanía....
promised a reward for his head but the Mapuche decided to defend their unusual ally.
De Tounens ran out of money in 1871 and had to return to France, where he published a second set of his memoirs. He also founded an Araucanian newspaper La Corona de Acero ("Iron Crown"). In 1872 he also proclaimed that he was seeking a bride so he could sire an heir. In 1873 he wrote to his brother that he intended to marry mademoiselle de Percy, but there is no evidence this ever happened.
In 1874 de Tounens tried again to return to his kingdom, this time with some arms and ammunition he was able to muster up with the feeble support of a few entrepreneurs in Europe. Because he was persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
in Chile, he traveled with a false passport. However, he was recognized as soon as he landed in Bahía Blanca
Bahía Blanca
Bahía Blanca is a city located in the south-west of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, by the Atlantic Ocean, and seat of government of Bahía Blanca Partido. It has a population of 274,509 inhabitants according to the...
(in the coast of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
) in July 1874 and was again summarily deported back to France.
De Tounens tried to return again in 1876. However, local settlers robbed him on his way to Patagonia and handed him over to Chilean authorities. He also fell badly ill and had to go through an operation to survive. His health did not allow him to continue his journey and he had to return to France.
Orélie-Antoine de Tounens died September 17, 1878 in Tourtoirac
Tourtoirac
Tourtoirac is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Aftermath
Although de Tounens had no children, some of his kin assumed the title as heir of the kingdom. Gustave-Achille Laviarde (as Achille I) tried to convince US president Grover ClevelandGrover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
to recognize Araucanian autonomy. Upon Laviarde's death 1902, Antoine-Hippolyte Cros inherited the title as Antoine II. Later it was transferred to Antoine III, who handed the title over to current holder, Prince Philippe, in 1950.
Current heir Philippe, who lives in France, has spoken on behalf of the Mapuche tribe on occasion. There is also the North American Araucanian Royalist Society (NAARS), a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1995. No sovereign state has recognized the kingdom.
His life is described in books Moi, Antoine de Tounens, roi de Patagonie (Me, Antoine of Tounens, King of Patagonia) (1981) by Jean Raspail
Jean Raspail
Jean Raspail is a French author, traveler and explorer.Jean Raspail was born the son of factory manager Octave Raspail and Marguerite Chaix...
and In Patagonia
In Patagonia
-Preparations:In 1972, Chatwin was hired by the Sunday Times Magazine as an adviser on art and architecture. His association with the magazine cultivated his narrative skills and he travelled on many international assignments, writing on such subjects as Algerian migrant workers and the Great Wall...
by Bruce Chatwin
Bruce Chatwin
Charles Bruce Chatwin was an English novelist and travel writer. He won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his novel On the Black Hill...