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History of Chillan


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Chill�n was founded in 1580 at the site of Chill�n Viejo as San Bartolom� de Chill�n by Mart�n Ruiz de Gamboa, who was campaigning against the local indigenous peoples at the time. However, this moniker did not fare well, and was replaced by the current name, which in the local Indian language means "where the Sun is sitting".

From its foundation, Chill�n has been at the heart of Chile's rich agricultural region. It is also in a region of seismic activity, suffering from devastating earthquakes throughout its history; the 1939 Chill�n earthquake left over 30,000 dead and mobilized international help.

Chile's national hero, Bernardo O'Higgins, was born in Chill�n in 1778. He was the force behind Chile's Independence from Spain, being elected Supreme Director and declaring independence after the Battle of Chacabuco against the Spanish in 1817. His later victory at the Maipo battlefield cemented the country's freedom. He died in exile in Peru in 1842
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