Abolition and persistence of indigenous slavery in colonial Chile: Pro-slavery strategies at the Araucano-Mapuche border area

Abstract

For the araucano-mapuche Indians of southern Chile captured in battle during warfare, a system of legal slavery became one of the exceptions to the juridical statute for the vassals of the King extended to includethe Indian population of America since 1542. Our work consists on a reflection on slavery and other forms of dependency and forceful work. Synthetically, we consider the illegal slavery practices which preparedthe ground to their legality since 1608, in spite of its precarious, shaky, and contradictory character, which persisted in such legislation until the beginning of the definite abolition process in 1674. Based on thefragments of histories of life, it is in our particular interest to understand how the Spaniards living in Chile intended to perpetuate slavery de facto, even once its legality became banned. Finally, after more than acentury has elapsed, we will examine how some specific women and children destinies resemble slavery practices.