The Araucaniad

References

The Araucaniad

poem by Ercilla y Zúñiga

Also known as: “La Araucana”

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June 18, 2026

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La Araucana is an epic poem by Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga, a Spanish soldier who fought in the 16th-century Araucanian wars in Chile. The poem celebrates the bravery and martial spirit of the Araucanian Indians, particularly their leader Caupolicán, in their resistance against the Spanish conquistadors.

Ercilla wrote much of the poem, known as the "Aeneid of the Chileans," on the battlefield. It is composed of 37 cantos and is written in the octava real stanza form. While it recounts Spanish conquests, it elevates the defeated Araucanians as the poem's champions, blending classical literary traditions with contemporary experiences. Despite its acclaim in its time, the poem is now rarely read outside of academic circles.12

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Araucanian wars
…Araucanians in the epic poem La Araucana (1569–89). This work is known as the “Aeneid of the Chileans.”
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…Araucanians in the epic poem La Araucana (1569–89). This work is known as the “Aeneid of the Chileans.”
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Lautaro
…protagonist of the epic poem La Araucana (1569–89), written by Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga, one of Valdivia’s officers.
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…protagonist of the epic poem La Araucana (1569–89), written by Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga, one of Valdivia’s officers.
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Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga
…known as the author of La Araucana (1569–89), the most celebrated Renaissance epic poem written in Castilian.
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…known as the author of La Araucana (1569–89), the most celebrated Renaissance epic poem written in Castilian.
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Latin American literature
The earliest literary activity
…y Zúñiga’s La Araucana (1569–89; The Araucaniad). The young soldier and courtier began the poem while engaged in campaigns against the Araucanian Indians of what is today Chile. While the poem has been praised for the authenticity lent by the fact that the poet was a participant in the wars…
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…y Zúñiga’s La Araucana (1569–89; The Araucaniad). The young soldier and courtier began the poem while engaged in campaigns against the Araucanian Indians of what is today Chile. While the poem has been praised for the authenticity lent by the fact that the poet was a participant in the wars…
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Spanish literature
Poetry
…Zúñiga achieved epic distinction with Araucana (published 1569–90), chronicling native resistance to Spain’s conquest of Chile. A similar attempt at epic, Lope de Vega’s Dragontea (1598), retells Sir Francis Drake’s last voyage and death.
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…Zúñiga achieved epic distinction with Araucana (published 1569–90), chronicling native resistance to Spain’s conquest of Chile. A similar attempt at epic, Lope de Vega’s Dragontea (1598), retells Sir Francis Drake’s last voyage and death.
Read More