María | |
---|---|
La Grande | |
Cacica of the southern Tehuelche people from the Strait of Magellan and the Patagonian coast | |
Reign | First half of the 19th century [1] |
Successor | Casimiro Biguá |
Born |
c. 1789 Disputed [note 1] |
Died |
c. 1841–47 Patagonia |
Nationality | Tehuelche |
Issue | 5 |
Father | Vicente |
María ( c. 1789 [2] – c. 1841–47), [3] better known as María la Grande or María Grande (English: María the Great), is the Christian name of a woman who served as the cacica of the southern Tehuelche people who lived in the Strait of Magellan and the Patagonian coast during the first half of the 19th century. [1] Her direct domain was focused in the territory of the Bay of San Gregorio, in the present-day Chilean region of Magallanes, [2] although she was called upon in other Patagonian regions when a conflictive situation required her judgment. [4]
María was a leader of great prestige and power among the Tehuelche people, known for her skills as a ruler and merchant with European settlers and explorers. [5] [6] She is considered one of the most prominent figures in the history of Patagonia. [2] Her influence covered the entirety of Argentine Patagonia, from the Río Negro to the Strait of Magellan. [5]
During her rule, she came into contact with the expeditions of James Weddell, Phillip Parker King, Robert FitzRoy and Luis Vernet, among others. [2] [6] The epithet " the Great"—a reference to Catherine II of Russia—was given to María by the latter upon meeting her in the Valdes Peninsula, in the present-day Argentine province of Chubut, in 1828. [5] After being appointed as the commander of the Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas) in 1831 by the Argentine government, Vernet invited María to the islands for the purpose of establishing trade relations between their territories. [5]
María | |
---|---|
La Grande | |
Cacica of the southern Tehuelche people from the Strait of Magellan and the Patagonian coast | |
Reign | First half of the 19th century [1] |
Successor | Casimiro Biguá |
Born |
c. 1789 Disputed [note 1] |
Died |
c. 1841–47 Patagonia |
Nationality | Tehuelche |
Issue | 5 |
Father | Vicente |
María ( c. 1789 [2] – c. 1841–47), [3] better known as María la Grande or María Grande (English: María the Great), is the Christian name of a woman who served as the cacica of the southern Tehuelche people who lived in the Strait of Magellan and the Patagonian coast during the first half of the 19th century. [1] Her direct domain was focused in the territory of the Bay of San Gregorio, in the present-day Chilean region of Magallanes, [2] although she was called upon in other Patagonian regions when a conflictive situation required her judgment. [4]
María was a leader of great prestige and power among the Tehuelche people, known for her skills as a ruler and merchant with European settlers and explorers. [5] [6] She is considered one of the most prominent figures in the history of Patagonia. [2] Her influence covered the entirety of Argentine Patagonia, from the Río Negro to the Strait of Magellan. [5]
During her rule, she came into contact with the expeditions of James Weddell, Phillip Parker King, Robert FitzRoy and Luis Vernet, among others. [2] [6] The epithet " the Great"—a reference to Catherine II of Russia—was given to María by the latter upon meeting her in the Valdes Peninsula, in the present-day Argentine province of Chubut, in 1828. [5] After being appointed as the commander of the Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas) in 1831 by the Argentine government, Vernet invited María to the islands for the purpose of establishing trade relations between their territories. [5]