3. An attempt captained by an insane French lawyer, the Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia was a short-lived political entity that sought to secede from Chile
Inspired to become a king after reading La Araucana by Alonso de Ercilla, in 1858 French former lawyer Orélie-Antoine de Tounens departed his homeland for South America. Arriving at the port of Coquimbo, Chile, Antoine met with the tribal chieftains of the Ioncos and promised to secure French backing to their ongoing insurgency against colonial oppression. Elected as their Supreme Chieftain – likely in the belief a European face would enhance their previously unsuccessful cause – on November 17, 1860, Antoine issued a decree denouncing colonial interference and proclaiming the formation of the independent Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia. Naming himself as its inaugural king, Antoine unnecessarily provoked Chilean authorities.
Responding with the Occupation of Araucanía, Chilean president José Joaquín Pérez ordered a full-scale invasion to capture the rogue monarch and end the indigenous rebellion. Despite promising arms and foreign support, Antoine was unable to fulfill any of his pledges to the Inonco prior to his coronation. Captured on January 5, 1862, Antoine was imprisoned before being declared insane by a court in Santiago. Expelled to France on October 28, 1862, Antoine would return to Chile three more times to ferment rebellion and attempt to reclaim his lost kingdom.