Alberto Blest Gana y el Rey de La Araucanía y Patagonia

Abstract

Although today the adventures of Orelie-Antoine 1, King of the Araucanía and Patagonia may appear fantastic to us, when they occurred the attempt by this French subject to establish an independent kingdom in the centre of the national territory of the young republic of Chile, was not a matter of amusement for the authorities of the republic. A short time before the Chilean expedition that took control of the Straits of Magellan, had barely managed to do so before the arrival of a French naval expedition that had the same objective. As well, the activities of Orelic-Antoine coincided with the efforts of Napoleon III to install the Archduke Maximilian of Austria on the throne of Mexico. This article is intended to examine the activities of the Chilean Minister Plenipotentiary in London and Paris, Alberto Blest Gana, aimed at uncovering and frustrating the plans of this Frenchman and his supporters in Europe, at the level of the press, government and financiers. In carrying out these activities, Blest Gana demonstrated the abilities that he would employ on a greater field during the War of the Pacific.