Chile established a colony at the Strait of Magellan in 1843, settled Valdivia, Osorno and Llanquihue with German immigrants and conquered land from Peru and Bolivia.

In January 1881, having decisively defeated Peru in the battles of Chorrillos and Miraflores, Chile resumed the conquest of Araucanía.

[6][7][8] Interior minister Manuel Recabarren was appointed by president Aníbal Pinto to oversee the process from the town of Angol.

[14] With the Chilean advance to Cautín River a small mountain range called Cadena de Ñielol remained a focus of Mapuche resistance from where warriors launched pillaging raids or attacks against vulnerable targets.

[13] Recabarren believed that Mapuches had not reacted because they expected the foundation of new forts and towns to be preceded by parliaments with Chilean authorities.

[18] On the other side of the Andes Pehuenches assaulted on March the Argentine outpost of Chos Malal killing the whole garrison of 25–30 soldiers.

[20] On November 5, 400 Mapuche warriors, allegedly led by Luis Marileo Colipí, attacked the fort of Lumaco.

[22][24] In Nueva Imperial suspicious Mapuche movements were noticed on November 6 and telegraphs were sent seeking help from Valdivia and Lebu.

In Toltén as well as in San José de la Mariquina most women were sent to the city of Valdivia as men prepared for hostilities.

Chileans and German settlers dug defensive trenches around San José de la Mariquina.

[27] At the moment of the uprising it was even thought that rebels could reach Valdivia in the south if they succeeded in penetrating San José de la Mariquina.

[29] Around Tirúa Costino warriors suffered heavy casualties in two engagements with a group of more than 400 armed settlers and campesinos plus some soldiers.

[21] On November 10 a reinforcement of Mapuches coming from Traigén was defeated by Chilean troops and the siege of Ñielol was lifted.

When Gregorio Urrutia arrived to Cholchol on November 10 he ordered the construction of a fort in the place of the ruka of chief Ancamilla who had joined the uprising.

By doing this Urrutia fulfilled an old vow:[35] If I, your friend, knows that you Ancamilla are involved in provocations and assaults, I swear I will build a fort above your ruka.

[36] Luis Marileo Colipí who had allegedly attacked Lumaco was stripped of the more than 6,000 ha land he owned near Purén and his brother was taken prisoner and killed.