Who are the Mapuche, the origin of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia

The Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia was founded in 1860, following the aspirations of Orélie-Antoine de Tounens. A kingdom of operetta according to some, a monarchical constitutional state according to others. But at the center of this debate is the Mapuche people. An indigenous people who are gradually seeing their territory disappear.

"People of the Earth," the Mapuche people of Chile... and Argentina

The Mapuche people are one of the indigenous peoples of Latin America. Long occupying the lands of Patagonia, they were dispossessed of them when the Spanish contingents set foot in Latin America around the nineteenth century. To learn more about the history of this people, visit www.araucanie-patagonie.org.

 

The Mapuche have lost their territories again to the new independent nations of Argentina and Chile. So this is a stateless people, who feel neither Chilean nor Argentine and who for years have lived without real ties. When democracy was established in Argentina and Chile, it was at these times that they had new rights to speak, the opportunity to campaign for their rights and for the restitution of their lands.

 

The Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia

This kingdom was founded in 1860 by the Mapuche. Its territory is now divided between Chile and Argentina. The first King of Araucania and Patagonia was a Frenchman, a lawyer living in Araucania, Orélie-Antoine de Tounens. His tenacity as ruler soon turned him into a fierce opponent of the Chilean regime.

Captured and expelled to France, he organized three expeditions to reclaim his throne and rally the Mapuche population against the power of Santiago. Today, Prince Anthony V of Araucania heads the Royal House of Araucania and Patagonia. Despite an exile in France, she never renounced her kingdom's rights to major international bodies.

 

The Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia: a living memory

Its territories were long divided between Argentines and Chileans (in 1902). The kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia may no longer exist, but the Mapuche nation remains. Until today, it has managed to preserve a strong cultural identity despite the constant efforts of colonial governments to make them disappear, or to forcibly integrate them into a culture that is not their own (European culture, Western culture, etc.).

 

What about the kingdom of Araucania?

Despite its status as a virtual kingdom, it is a constitutional monarchy with its own flag, decorations and anthem. True to this status, the kingdom embarked on numerous projects: humanitarian actions, cultural missions and sustained international commitment.

 

The goal remains the same: to work for the recognition and preservation of the Mapuche people, as well as the preservation of their ancestral territory.

 

The Order of the South Star

Founded by the Royal House of Araucania and Patagonia, this NGO aims to be a duty of historical remembrance and a symbol of resilience and unity. It is an organization that aims to preserve and recognize the Mapuche population.

 

The other mission of the NGO Order of the South Star is to help the legitimate Royal House of Araucania and Patagonia to fully ensure its representative and symbolic role.

 

Initiatives welcomed

Through its initiatives, the NGO is actively involved in defending the territorial rights of the Mapuche, promoting their ancestral culture and combating discrimination. It organizes international awareness campaigns, supports local educational projects, and works with institutions to preserve the oral and environmental traditions of this indigenous people, strengthening their collective identity in the face of modern challenges.

Under the high patronage of Prince Anthony V, the organization is working for a global recognition of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia as a historical symbol. It facilitates diplomatic exchanges, publishes commemorative publications and supports the Royal Household in its official representations, aiming to perpetuate a legacy of resistance and inspire indigenous solidarity movements around the world.