The heart of a King soars once more in French Périgueux

By Louise Redmayne - 30th Nov 2010

In the heart of the Dordogne, situated in the tiny French hamlet of Tourtoirac lays the tomb of the founding monarch of the indigenous Mapuche Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia, King Orelie Antoine I; his co-founders Lonko (Chiefs) Kilapan, Kalfukura and Toki Mañil, the ultimate authorities of the Mapuche Nation of Wallmapu, today illegally occupied by the republics of Chile and Argentina.

On Saturday 20th Nov 2010 in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Kingdom, the King’s final resting place was the focus of a prestigious Royal ceremony, hosted by the present Sovereign Prince Philippe of Araucania and Patagonia and attended by national and international dignitaries and Mapuche delegates, attracting the gaze of French national television and newspaper media. During the solemn occasion beneath slate grey, rain drenched skies dozens of local, national and international dignitaries and royal supporters thronged by the graveside of the original founding sovereign to observe the placing of commemorative wreaths and to witness the speeches of the present reigning monarch and the Lord Mayor of Tourtoirac on the momentous occasion of the 21st century, 150th Royal Anniversary.

The Lord Mayor of Tourtoirac, Dominique Durand commended King Orelie Antoine’s remarkable and tenacious achievements whilst the General counsellor of Canton d’ Hautefort, Yves Moreau, spoke of the continued brutal repression of the Mapuche and the illicit application of Anti-Terrorist law under the present day Chilean and Argentinean States to the indigenous people and the systematic exploitation of the Mapuche national territorial resources at the hands of national and multi-national forestry, farming and extraction corporations. Whilst, he applauded the bravery of the founding monarch, in creating and maintaining the Kingdom in the face of extreme adversity.

An extraordinary royal banquet and roll of honours was held in tribute to the auspicious historic occasion which took place shortly after the commemoration ceremony in the ancient Gaelic town of Tourtoirac. The occasion was led by HRH Prince Philippe of Araucania and Patagonia and was preceded by a moment of silence whilst the Royal national anthem was observed. HRH Prince Philippe proceeded to bestow the 150th Anniversary commemorative honours to a select number of guests including Count Mariqueo of Lul-lul Mawidha, Charge d’ Affaires of the KAP for his consistent loyalty, support and advocacy of the indigenous Sovereignty; Nina Dean, Vice secretary, Mapuche International Link for her contribution over the past decade to the Mapuche struggle for justice and self determination within international forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council among others.

Amongst the esteemed guests Franz Quatreboeufs Viscount de Malimensu, President du Souvenir Franco-Araucanie and observed the official toasts given by the President of the Royal Council Don Jean-Michel Parasiliti di Para, Baron de San Pedro Hueysco, and Baron Raoul de Lavalette, Chancellor of the Royal House, firstly honouring the Mapuche Nation and People acknowledging their continued struggle for liberty and self determination, King Orelie Antoine I, HRH Prince Philippe the current monarch and the Royal House of Araucania and Patagonia itself.

During a planned interlude in the prestigious luncheon celebration, guests and dignitaries gathered outside the venue to witness a pair of royal supporters mounted on horseback who paid their respects to the ceremonial gathering, their horses clad in the colours of the official royal flag.

Following the anniversary honours banquet the royal guests travelled to the town of Périgueux to observe the official unveiling of a plaque in honour of King Orelie Antoine I, situated at the site of the office building which he formerly occupied between the years of 1852 And 1857. King Orelie sold the office building in 1857 in order to finance his virgin expedition to the Mapuche territory, Wallmapu in 1858 prior to making his alliance with the highest Mapuche Lonko of the era, the unique and monumentous collaboration which led to the formation of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia as we know it today.

In preparation for the Diamond Jubilee of HRH Prince Philippe, Tourtoirac is soon to host the official museum of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia, planned for it’s opening in February 2011, it is situated opposite the Tourtoirac town hall in the ancient grounds of the historic 12th century church used prior to the French revolution for the coronation of French royalty. The museum is currently situated in the grounds of the birthplace of King Orelie Antoine also the current country residence of HRH Prince Philippe, ‘la Cheze’.

Though King Orelie Antoine was ultimately captured and transported to his country of origin for the fourth and last time in 1877 where he later died as a result of ill health developed during his time in captivity as a political prisoner in Chile, the Kingdom survived unchanged over 150 years through successive monarchs to the present day. The modern Kingdom remains intact, true to its founding principles and in accordance with its constitution, in the spirit of inclusion and democracy it is made up of both Mapuche and non-Mapuche royal advisors. Recently appointed Charge d’ Affaires, Count Reynaldo Mariqueo, conducts foreign relations missions on behalf of the royal house which last week took him to the British Palace of Westminster, Werken (Mapuche envoy) Sir Gaston Lion is responsible for indigenous relations.


 

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