Kingdom of Araucania
The Kingdom of Araucania, previously the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia, is a nation in South America bordering the Kingdom of Argentina and the Republic of Chile.
History
French, later Occitanian, lawyer and adventurer Antione de Tounens read about the region, and became immediately infatuated. He traveled to Araucania in 1860, where he met with the chiefs of the Mapuche tribes. In a declaration, he proclaimed himself king of Araucania, and later of Patagonia as well, promising European support for Mapuche independence from Chile. Tounens went to Chile to discuss the proclamation, but was arrested, declared insane, and deported back to Occitania.
In 1870, Tounens returned to South America, where a shipment of weapons were confiscated in Buenos Aires. King Robert I ordered an investigation and questioning of Tounens. While Tounens didn't impress Robert, he did convince his ministers of the possibilities of blocking Chile's territorial ambitions. Argentina promised weapons and funding in exchange for Tounens renouncing his claims over Patagonia. In 1872, Tounens declared himself Antoine I of Araucania once again.
When Chile invaded Argentina's Pacific provinces in 1879, sparking the War of the Pacific, Araucania wished to remain neutral. Due to this, many other nations put political pressure on Chile to leave Araucania independent when Argentina lost the war in 1884.
Following the war, Argentina began the conquest of the Patagonia Desert, angering the Mapuche in Araucania. King Achille I of Araucania denounced what he declared acts of genocide.
During the Great War, Araucania was deemed too inconspicuous to be of importance, but nonetheless was invited to the Congress of Columbia. King Antoine III declared neutrality, joining most of the American powers. Furthermore, Antoine III was left unconvinced to join the new Inter-American Confederation, believing Japan held little ambitions on his territory.
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