Butapichón or Butapichún[1] or Putapichon[2] was the
Mapuchetoqui from 1625 to 1631, as successor to
Lientur. After the death of
Quepuantú in 1632 he became toqui once again from 1632 to 1634.
Butapichón as toqui lead the Mapuche in successful
malones and battles against Spanish forces. On January 24, 1630 he managed to ambush the maestre de campoAlonso de Córdoba y Figueroa in
Pilcohué without achieving the victory but causing them many casualties. After Quepuantú succeeded him as Toqui the two fought the Spanish led by the very competent Governor
Francisco Laso de la Vega who finally defeated them in the pitched battle of
La Albarrada on January 13, 1631. Thereafter he refused to engage in open battles against Laso de la Vega, reverting to the
Malón strategy of
Lientur. The toqui
Huenucalquin succeeded Butapichón.
^Miguel de Olivares, Historia Militar, Civil Y Sagrada de Chile, Coleccíon de historiadores de Chile y documentos a la Historia Nacional, TOMO IV, IMPRENTA DEL FERROCARRIL, Calle delà Bandera Num. 39., Santiago, 1864
Sources
Diego de Rosales, “Historia General del Reino de Chile”, Flandes Indiano, 3 tomos. Valparaíso 1877 – 1878.