CURANTEO (coo-ran-tay'-o), Araucanian caeique of the Promanco tribe, born in Pur6n, Chili, in 1726; died there in 1785. He became famous among the Araucanian warriors, and they appointed him their generalissimo to direct the war against the Spaniards in 1766. He began operations by destroying several towns and settlements of the whites. At the head of 8,000 Indians, he fought a battle at Tucapel (1767) against the Spanish General Oonzala, who, after a long and tenacious resistance, was forced to retreat to ChillAn, and subsequently besieged by Curanteo. In 1768 he fought and won another important battle in the Arauco valley, but lost a leg in the struggle. In a fierce battle near Angol with General Ponte, governor of Chili, in 1768, he was badly defeated. From that time until 1772 Curanteo had many encounters with the Spaniards, his principal purpose being to damage the settlers rather than obtain victories in the field. In April 1773, he was again defeated near Quillero in one of the most terrible battles known in the history of Chili. In 1780 he won a battle against the Spanish army, whose commander signed a treaty of peace granting the Araucanian chief what he demanded. Curanteo retired to his native town, and, although his body was covered with wounds, attained an advanced age.