La esclavitud legal de los araucano-mapuches del sur de Chile capturados en la guerra constituyó una de las excepciones al estatuto jurídico de vasallos del rey reconocido a los indígenas de América a partir de 1542. Nuestro trabajo consiste en una reflexión sobre la esclavitud y otras formas de dependencia y trabajo forzado. Consideraremos prácticas ilegales de esclavitud que abonaron el terreno para su legalizacióna partir de 1608, recalcando el carácter precario, movedizo y contradictorio de la legislación hasta que se inicia el proceso de abolición definitiva de la esclavitud en 1674. Quisiéramos entender, gracias a losfragmentos de historias de vida que ha sido posible rescatar, cómo los españoles de Chile intentaron perpetuar la esclavitud de hecho, cuando la esclavitud de derecho dejó de ser posible. Finalmente examinaremos cómo, más de un siglo después, ciertos destinos de mujeres y niños, rayan con prácticas esclavistas.  For the araucano-mapuche Indians of southern Chile captured in battle during warfare, a system of legal slavery became one of the exceptions to the juridical statute for the vassals of the King extended to includethe Indian population of America since 1542. Our work consists on a reflection on slavery and other forms of dependency and forceful work. Synthetically, we consider the illegal slavery practices which preparedthe ground to their legality since 1608, in spite of its precarious, shaky, and contradictory character, which persisted in such legislation until the beginning of the definite abolition process in 1674. Based on thefragments of histories of life, it is in our particular interest to understand how the Spaniards living in Chile intended to perpetuate slavery de facto, even once its legality became banned. Finally, after more than acentury has elapsed, we will examine how some specific women and children destinies resemble slavery practices.For the araucano-mapuche Indians of southern Chile captured in battleduring warfare, a system of legal slavery became one of the exceptionsto the juridical statute for the vassals of the King extended to includethe Indian population of America since 1542. Our work consists on areflection on slavery and other forms of dependency and forceful work.Synthetically, we consider the illegal slavery practices which preparedthe ground to their legality since 1608, in spite of its precarious, shaky,and contradictory character, which persisted in such legislation untilthe beginning of the definite abolition process in 1674. Based on thefragments of histories of life, it is in our particular interest to understandhow the Spaniards living in Chile intended to perpetuate slavery defacto, even once its legality became banned. Finally, after more than acentury has elapsed, we will examine how some specific women andchildren destinies resemble slavery practices.