He was the main chief of the Arribanos and the father of Quilapán who led Mapuche forces in the Occupation of Araucanía.
Mañil had a long-running enmity with lonko Juan Lorenzo Colipí dating back to their participation in the Guerra a muerte (1819–1821) phase of the Chilean War of Independence.
[1] Manuel Montt, as President of Chile, passed a law on December 7 of 1852 that created the Province of Arauco, a territory intended to administer all territories south of the Bío-Bío River and north of Valdivia Province.
Mañil further accused intendant Villalón con Salbo of becoming rich by cattle theft.
[5] A peace proposal made by settlers was accepted in 1860 during a meeting of several Mapuche chiefs.