Le Musée des Rois d’Araucanie et de Patagonie — Attraction in Sarlat-la-Canéda

For those of us growing-up with reading Bruce Chatwin’s ‘In Patagonia’, the king of Araucania might ring a bell. Araucania is located in present day Chili between the Biobio river in the north, and the the city of Valdivia to the south. Indigenous peoples resisted the Inca expansion, and drove the Spanish out in 1598, their status settled in the 1641 Quillin pact, remaining independent till 1875.

So what does all this have to do with this spot in rural France? In 1825 a boy is born in a small hamlet close to Tourtoirac. He initially becomes a lawyer in Perigueux but then looks for adventure. Scouring over maps he discovers Araucaria and in 1859 sets out to claim it for France. After some time in the Freemasons lodge of Valparaiso, he crosses into Araucania by 1860. He somehow convinces the locals to unite against Chili and Argentina, and declared himself king. After writing a constitution, a national anthem, designing a national flag and stationary, he informed the world. The indigenous population on the Argentine side of the Andes seemed to like the idea, and asked to join, leaving him the ‘King of Araucaria and Patagonia’!

The Chilean government was less amused, ambushed him, put him in jail, and a few months later, on trial. Though the former lawyer was able to defend himself, it took the French consul to get him out, and on to a ship back to France. He took up residence in Paris were he spent his time writing petitions and looking for funds to realize his dream. One profitable business being the sale of royal titles and rewards. He managed to return in 1868, was arrested in Argentina in 1874, and tried again 1876 to fall ill, returned to his birth place broke (but not broken). Spend his last years lighting streetlights, to die in September 1878…

He did manage to find a successor, after his family refused the hereditary title, presently the ‘prince of Araucaria’ resides in Paris. There is this small museum at the back of the abbey, and you are able to visit his grave (and that of his successor) on the graveyard just outside the village. A small museum dedicated to a footnote in history, but a curious addition to the...

Our visit to le Musee des Rois d’Araucanie et de Patagonie was amazingly interesting, to learn of the history of King Orellie Antoine I, the founding Monarch of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia whom along with consent of the highest Lonko’s (chiefs of the Mapuche Nation of Wallmapu (Chile and Argentina) established a constitutional Monarchy in 1860. A Monarchy which has continued in exile in France to the present day through 9 consecutive Sovereigns. Prince Antoine V of Araucania and Patagonia is the present day head of the Royal House of Araucania and Patagonia. The museum is the Well worth visiting to learn more of this fascinating story and the life and work of the present day...

Musée actuellement fermé mais visité lors d'un précédent séjour. Quelle histoire touchante que celle d'Antoine qui en voulant devenir roi voulait aussi...