Abstract

Rey Don Felipe promised to be the southernmost city in the world at the end of the 16th century. In the present work, we intend to delve in its history from a perspective that has been little explored to date. Specifically, we aim to analyze the interactions, encounters, and disagreements between the Spanish settlers and the local populations. The presence and actions of these populations have remained invisible due to the overwhelming emphasis on the narrative of the epic deed in the historiography of the settlement. To conduct our research, we rely on published sources, recent editions that have enriched our knowledge about Rey Don Felipe, as well as archaeological and historical studies. Additionally, we utilize unpublished documentation from the General Archive of the Indies. Our focus will be on addressing the invisible presence of the populations of the Strait, with particular attention given to three key moments in the colonization project: the first contact, the preparation of the Armada in Spain, and the frustrated settlement. © 2023 Authors. All rights reserved.