Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia
In 1858, Antoine de Tounens (1825-1878), a lawyer in Perigueux, France, who had read the book, La Araucana by Alonso de Ercilla, decided to go to Araucania, inspired to become its king after reading the book. Although there are certainly differences, his personal story is not totally unlike that of Jules Gros & Counani. He landed at the port of Coquimbo in Chile and met some loncos (Mapuche tribal leaders). After mastering the language and arriving south to the Biobio region, he promised the Mapuche some arms and the help of France to maintain their independence from Chile. The Mapuche were engaged in a desperate armed struggle to retain their independence in the face of hostile military and economic encroachment by the governments of Chile and Argentina, who coveted the Mapuche lands for economic and political reasons.
The Indians elected de Tounens Great Toqui, Supreme Chieftain of the Mapuche, possibly in the belief that their cause might be better served with a European acting on their behalf. On November 17, 1860, the unrecognized state, the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia, sometimes referred to as Nouvelle France, was proclaimed by a decree of Orelie-Antoine de Tounens. He also declared Perquenco capital of his kingdom, created a flag, and had coins minted and an order established for the new nation under the name of Nouvelle France.
Antoine de Tounens - Orllie-Antoine Ier Roi d'Araucanie et de Patagonie
Arrested on January 5, 1862 by Chilean authorities, Antoine de Tounens was imprisoned and declared insane on September 2, 1862 by the Court of Santiago. He was expelled to France on October 28, 1862. He later tried three times to return to Araucania to reclaim his "kingdom" without success.
Much like Counani, the establishment of Araucania was seen as a curious and semi-comic episode. Once back in France, de Tounens was lampooned for his attempts to recruit settlers by handing out medals, minting coins and commissioning an anthem for Nouvelle France. The Kingdom devolved into the control of monarchs and sovereigns of fantasy, having territorial claims rooted only in fantasy with no legal standing. The Kingdom is better known for the selling of titles and Orders. In the interim, the Mapuche conflict has intensified and in recent years has given some charitable purpose to the Kingdom long considered an absurdity.
Pretenders to the Throne following Antoine de Tounens:
After King Achille I, who followed Orelie-Antoine de Tounens, the succession has been continued by notarized acts of the title of Prince of Araucania. This title is officially recognized by the French Republic.
Achille Laviarde (1878-1902) also known as Achille I
Antoine-Hippolyte Cros (1902-1903) also known as Antoine II
Laure-Therese Cros (1903-1916) also known as Laure Therese I
Jacques Antoine Bernard (1916-1952) also known as Antoine III
Philippe Boiry (1952-2014) also known as Prince Philippe
Jean-Michel Parasiliti di Para (2014-2017) also known as Antoine IV
Frederic Luz (2017-) also known as Frederic I
In 1858, Antoine de Tounens (1825-1878), a lawyer in Perigueux, France, who had read the book, La Araucana by Alonso de Ercilla, decided to go to Araucania, inspired to become its king after reading the book. Although there are certainly differences, his personal story is not totally unlike that of Jules Gros & Counani. He landed at the port of Coquimbo in Chile and met some loncos (Mapuche tribal leaders). After mastering the language and arriving south to the Biobio region, he promised the Mapuche some arms and the help of France to maintain their independence from Chile. The Mapuche were engaged in a desperate armed struggle to retain their independence in the face of hostile military and economic encroachment by the governments of Chile and Argentina, who coveted the Mapuche lands for economic and political reasons.
The Indians elected de Tounens Great Toqui, Supreme Chieftain of the Mapuche, possibly in the belief that their cause might be better served with a European acting on their behalf. On November 17, 1860, the unrecognized state, the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia, sometimes referred to as Nouvelle France, was proclaimed by a decree of Orelie-Antoine de Tounens. He also declared Perquenco capital of his kingdom, created a flag, and had coins minted and an order established for the new nation under the name of Nouvelle France.
Antoine de Tounens - Orllie-Antoine Ier Roi d'Araucanie et de Patagonie
Arrested on January 5, 1862 by Chilean authorities, Antoine de Tounens was imprisoned and declared insane on September 2, 1862 by the Court of Santiago. He was expelled to France on October 28, 1862. He later tried three times to return to Araucania to reclaim his "kingdom" without success.
Much like Counani, the establishment of Araucania was seen as a curious and semi-comic episode. Once back in France, de Tounens was lampooned for his attempts to recruit settlers by handing out medals, minting coins and commissioning an anthem for Nouvelle France. The Kingdom devolved into the control of monarchs and sovereigns of fantasy, having territorial claims rooted only in fantasy with no legal standing. The Kingdom is better known for the selling of titles and Orders. In the interim, the Mapuche conflict has intensified and in recent years has given some charitable purpose to the Kingdom long considered an absurdity.
Pretenders to the Throne following Antoine de Tounens:
After King Achille I, who followed Orelie-Antoine de Tounens, the succession has been continued by notarized acts of the title of Prince of Araucania. This title is officially recognized by the French Republic.
Achille Laviarde (1878-1902) also known as Achille I
Antoine-Hippolyte Cros (1902-1903) also known as Antoine II
Laure-Therese Cros (1903-1916) also known as Laure Therese I
Jacques Antoine Bernard (1916-1952) also known as Antoine III
Philippe Boiry (1952-2014) also known as Prince Philippe
Jean-Michel Parasiliti di Para (2014-2017) also known as Antoine IV
Frederic Luz (2017-) also known as Frederic I
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