While in Chile ( 1556 -- 63 ) he fought against the Araucanians ( Mapuche ) , and there he began the epic poem `` La Araucana '' , considered one of the greatest Spanish historical poems .
While in Chile ( 1556 -- 63 ) he fought against the Araucanian , and there he began the epic poem `` La Araucana '' , said to be the greatest Spanish historical poem .