Editing Frontier (section)

===Chile===
{{see also|Arauco War|La Frontera, Chile|Mapuche conflict|Malón}}
The [[Destruction of the Seven Cities]] (1599–1604) led to the formation of a frontier called [[La Frontera, Chile|La Frontera]], with the [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]] ruling north of [[Biobío River]] and [[Mapuche]] retaining independence south of the said river. Within this frontier the city of [[Concepción, Chile|Concepción]] assumed the role of "military capital" of Spanish-ruled Chile.<ref name=encicloreg2006>{{cite book|title=Enciclopedia regional del Bío Bío|page=44|language=es|date=2006|isbn=956-16-0404-3|publisher=[[Pehuén Editores]]}}</ref> This informal role was given by the establishment of the Spanish [[Army of Arauco]] in the city which was financed by a payments of silver from [[Potosí]] called [[Real Situado]].<ref name=encicloreg2006/> Santiago located at some distance from the war zone remained the political capital since 1578.<ref name=encicloreg2006/>
[[File:Huasos Maulinos - Rugendas.jpg|thumb|Chilean [[huaso]]s, 1836, by [[Johann Moritz Rugendas]]]]
Following the [[Mapuche uprising of 1655]] and abolition of [[Slavery of Mapuches|Mapuche slavery]] in 1683 in the Spanish Empire trade across the frontier increased.<ref name=MCLGuerraarauco>{{Cite journal| url   = http://www.memoriachilena.gob.cl/602/w3-article-7681.html
| title = La Frontera araucana
| journal  = [[Memoria Chilena]]
| publisher  = [[Biblioteca Nacional de Chile]]
| access-date = November 30, 2019
| language = es
}}</ref> Mapuche-Spanish and later Mapuche-Chilean trade increased further in the second half of the 18th century as hostilities decreased.<ref name=Bengoa45-46>Bengoa 2000, pp. 45–46.</ref> Mapuches obtained [[Good (economics)|goods]] from Chile and some dressed in "Spanish" clothing.<ref name=Bengoa154>Bengoa 2000, p. 154.</ref> Despite close contacts Chileans and Mapuches remained socially, politically and economically distinct.<ref name=Bengoa154/> Spanish and later Chilean officials with the titles of [[comisario de naciones]] and [[capitán de amigos]] acted as intermediaries between the Mapuche and colonial and republican authorities.<ref name=MemChiTiposFro>{{Cite journal| url   = http://www.memoriachilena.gob.cl/602/w3-article-97969.html
| title = Tipos fronterizos
| journal  = [[Memoria Chilena]]
| publisher  = [[Biblioteca Nacional de Chile]]
| access-date = January 12, 2021
| language = es
}}</ref>

During the [[Occupation of Araucanía]] the Republic of Chile advanced the frontier south from [[Bío Bío River]] to [[Malleco River]] where a well defended line of forts was established between 1861 and 1871.

Having decisively defeated Peru in the [[Battle of San Juan and Chorrillos|battles of Chorrillos]] and [[Battle of Miraflores|Miraflores]] in January 1881 Chilean authorities turned their attention to the southern frontier in Araucanía seeking to defend the previous advances that had been so difficult to establish.<ref name=Bengoa275-276>Bengoa 2000, pp. 275-276.</ref><ref name=Ferrando547>Ferrando 1986, p. 547</ref><ref name=Bengoa277-278>Bengoa 2000, pp. 277-278.</ref> The idea was not only to defend forts and settlements but also to advance the frontier all the way from [[Malleco River]] to [[Cautín River]].<ref name=Bengoa275-276/><ref name="Bengoa277-278"/>