Orélie-Antoine de Tounens, King of Araucania and Patagonia

Orélie-Antoine de Tounens (born Antoine Tounens) (12 May 1825 – 17 September 1878) was a French lawyer and adventurer who proclaimed himself King of Araucania and Patagonia.

In 1858, Antoine de Tounens, a former lawyer in Périgueux (France) had read the book of Alonso de Ercilla, La Araucana, and decided to go to Araucania, inspired by the book to become the King of Araucania. He landed at the port of Coquimbo in Chile and spent two years in Valparaíso and Santiago, studying Spanish. Later he moved South to the Bio-Bio where he met some loncos (Mapuche tribal leaders). He promised them arms and the help of France to maintain their independence from Chile. The indians elected him Great Toqui, Supreme Chieftain of the Mapuches possibly in the belief that their cause might be better served with a European acting on their behalf.

By two decrees on November 17, 1860 and November 20, 1860, he proclaimed himself King of Araucania and Patagonia under the name Orélie-Antoine I. He sent copies of the constitution of his kingdom to Chilean newspapers and El Mercurio published a portion of it on 29 December 1860. Then he returned to Valparaíso to wait for the representatives of the Chilean government. They 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 de Tounens was insane. He returned to Araucanía where many Mapuche tribes were again preparing to fight the incursions of the Chilean Army during the occupation of Araucanía.

The supposed founding of the Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia led to the Occupation of Araucanía by Chilean forces. Chilean president José Joaquín Pérez authorized Cornelio Saavedra Rodríguez, commander of the Chilean troops, to invade Araucanía.On January 5, 1862, he was arrested by the Chilean army and imprisoned. He was declared insane by the court of Santiago on September 2, 1862, and expelled to France on 28 October 28, 1862. He tried three further times to come back to Araucanía to regain his "kingdom", but without success, and he died in poverty on 17 September, 1878, in Tourtoirac, France. (This temporary text has been reproduced from this article and will be replaced with our own text soon.)