Mariano Melgarejo
Manuel Mariano Melgarejo Valencia (13 April 1820 – 23 November 1871) was a Bolivian military officer who served as the 15th president of Bolivia from 1864 to 1871. His tenure, nicknamed the "sexenio",[1] was characterized by repression and mismanagement. For this reason, he is sometimes regarded as Bolivia's worst president,[2][3] though some authors have also argued that his vices have been overstated by the predominantly Chilean sources who wrote the earliest authoritative sources about his career.[1]
Mariano Melgarejo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 15th President of Bolivia | |
| In office 28 December 1864 – 15 January 1871 Provisional: 28 December 1864 – 15 August 1870 | |
| Preceded by | José María de Achá |
| Succeeded by | Agustín Morales |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Manuel Mariano Melgarejo Valencia 13 April 1820 Tarata, United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (now Bolivia) |
| Died | 23 November 1871 (aged 51) Lima, Peru |
| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Nationality | Bolivian |
| Spouse(s) | Rosa Rojas |
| Domestic partner | Juana Sánchez |
| Parent(s) | Ignacio Valencia Lorenza Melgarejo |
| Awards | Order of the Southern Cross |
| Signature | .svg.png.webp) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Bolivia |
| Branch/service | Bolivian Army |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | War of the Confederation Peruvian-Bolivian War |
Early life
Melgarejo was born on 13 April 1820 in the Department of Cochabamba, being the illegitimate son of a Spanish-Bolivian and a Quechua Indian.[4] He did not receive formal schooling, instead joining the army at an early age.[3]
Military career
A career military officer from the department of Cochabamba, Melgarejo slowly climbed the hierarchy of the armed forces, aided by his sycophancy, willingness to participate in rebellions, and feats of personal valor. Having participated in an 1854 military revolt against long-time dictator Manuel Isidoro Belzu, Melgarejo was tried for treason but pardoned, as he had begged for his life and blamed alcohol for his participation in the ill-fated coup.[2] General Melgarejo originally supported the Linares dictatorship (1857–61) and then fought on the side of the rebellious General José Maria de Achá, who became President in 1861. In December 1864, he then rose up against Achá and, prevailing against both the forces of Achá and former President Belzu (then struggling to return to power himself), proclaimed himself President of Bolivia. As Belzú continued to control part of the country and army, Melgarejo sought him and, by most accounts, murdered him personally.[3]
Presidency
As president, Melgarejo quickly became notorious for his erratic behavior. He ruthlessly suppressed the opposition, violently crushing protests and dispossessing the country's indigenous population of their land.[3] Melgarejo worked on behalf of a new mining elite in Bolivia, during a period of resurgent silver production and investment from Chile, Peru, North America, England and European capitalists.[5] Despite the rising prices of guano and nitrates on the international market, the government of Bolivia faced recurring financial problems throughout Melgarejo's tenure.
Some of Melgarejo's most infamous acts as president included signing treaties that gave away large stretches of land to Brazil and Chile. One such example was the 1867 Treaty of Ayacucho, where Melgarejo traded over 100,000 square kilometers of territory to Brazil; it was rumored that Melgarejo was given a white horse to convince him to sign the treaty.[2]
Melgarejo also carried on a hedonistic personal life during his presidency, reportedly drinking heavily and holding frequent orgies throughout his tenure.[3]
Coup d'état and death
Melgarejo eventually galvanized the opposition in a concerted effort to rid the country of his tyranny. On 15 January 1871, he was toppled by the Commander of the Army, General Agustín Morales. Melgarejo fled to Lima after his ouster. On 23 November of that year, he was assassinated by Aurelio Sánchez, the brother of his longtime lover Juana Sánchez.[3]
References
- Rojas Padilla, Jhosmane (26 February 2017). "La 'construcción' del mito de Mariano Melgarejo". La Razon. Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- Jacobs, Frank (3 April 2012). "How Bolivia Lost Its Hat". New York Times: Opinionator. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- Fernández, Tomás; Tamaro, Elena (2004). "Biografia de Mariano Melgarejo". Biografías y Vidas: La enciclopedia biográfica en línea. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- Wilgus, Alva Curtis (1963). South American Dictators During the First Century of Independence. Russell & Russell. p. 334.
- Klein, Herbert S. (1998). The American Finances of the Spanish Empire: Royal Income and Expenditures in Colonial Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia, 1680-1809. University of New Mexico Press. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-8263-1832-9.
