La Imperial or Ciudad Imperial was a city founded by Pedro de Valdivia on April 16, 1552 and named in honor of the Emperor Charles V. It was abandoned on April 5, 1600 and destroyed as a result of the Mapuche Uprising of 1598 during the War of Arauco. The ruins were called Antigua Imperial. A city was refounded there in 1882 under the name Carahue.
As the city was destroyed, the episcopal see of that name has ceased to be a residential Catholic diocese and is considered a titular see.
Coordinates: 37°15′S 73°19′W / 37.250°S 73.317°W