The
Battle of Tucapel (also known as the
Disaster of Tucapel) is the name given to a battle fought between
Spanish conquistador forces led by
Pedro de Valdivia and
Mapuche (Araucanian) Indians under
Lautaro that took place at
Tucapel,
Chile on December 25, 1553. This
battle happened in the context of the first stage of the
Arauco War, named the "offensive war" within a larger uprising by Araucanians against the Spanish conquest of Chile. It was a defeat for the Spaniards, resulting in the capture and eventual death of Valdivia.