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1553
Araucanians capture and kill Valdivia.
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Junta in Santiago proclaims autonomy for Chile following the overthrow of the king of Spain by Napoleon.
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Spain regains control of Chile.
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Spanish defeated by Army of the Andes led by Jose de San Martin and Bernardo O'Higgins at the battles of Chacabuco and Maipu.
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Chile becomes independent with O'Higgins as supreme leader.
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O'Higgins forced to resign; civil war between liberal federalists and conservative centralists ends with conservative victory.
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Civil war over constitutional dispute between president and congress ends in congressional victory, with president reduced to figurehead.
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Communist Party banned.
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May - 45 young soldiers perish in a blizzard, prompting calls for an end to compulsory military service.
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August - Chile and China sign a free-trade deal, Beijing's first in South America.
