Antero Rubín
Encyclopedia
Antero Rubín Homent was a Spanish
general
and politician
noted for his long service in Cuba
. He fought in the Spanish American War, served in the Cortes Generales
, and spent his last lap of life as Senator for the province of Zamora
.
Rubín's father, a career officer who served served with distinction under General Prim in the 1860 war against Morocco
, steered Rubín toward a military career. Rubín enrolled in the Spanish Army
May 11, 1868, and in 1869, at the age of 16, volunteered for service in Cuba
. Rubín returned home shortly afterwards with his statutory promotion to lieutenant
and began his studies at Vigo
and Santiago de Compostella.
In 1869 Rubín, a captain, embarked once more for Cuba. He prosecuted several campaigns against the Cuban insurgency
, marked by successes at Estella and Somorrostro.
On February 4, 1898 Rubín was promoted to Brigadier General
of the Regimento de María Cristina. He conducted himself well at the Battle of Las Guasimas
, where his small force fought a very successful rearguard operation, bloodying Joseph Wheeler
's V Corps before retiring in good order to Santiago de Cuba
. This city was put under siege after a bloody struggle at San Juan Hill
and on July 18 General Jose Toral reached an agreement with the Americans and capitulated.
Rubín was one of the few Spanish commanders not discredited by the war. He reached the rank of Lieutenant General
in 1908 and became Captain General
of Galicia in 1917.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
noted for his long service in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. He fought in the Spanish American War, served in the Cortes Generales
Cortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
, and spent his last lap of life as Senator for the province of Zamora
Zamora (province)
Zamora is a Spanish province of western Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile and León.The present-day province of Zamora province was one of three provinces formed from the former Kingdom of León in 1833, when Spain was re-organised into 49 provinces.It is bordered by...
.
Rubín's father, a career officer who served served with distinction under General Prim in the 1860 war against Morocco
Spanish-Moroccan War (1859)
The Hispano-Moroccan War, also known as the Spanish–Moroccan War, the First Moroccan War, the Tetuán War, or, in Spain, as the African War , was fought from Spain's declaration of war on Morocco on 22 October 1859 until the Treaty of Wad-Ras on 26 April 1860...
, steered Rubín toward a military career. Rubín enrolled in the Spanish Army
Spanish Army
The Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...
May 11, 1868, and in 1869, at the age of 16, volunteered for service in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Rubín returned home shortly afterwards with his statutory promotion to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
and began his studies at Vigo
Vigo
Vigo is a city and municipality in north-west Spain, in Galicia, situated on the ria of the same name on the Atlantic Ocean.-Population:...
and Santiago de Compostella.
In 1869 Rubín, a captain, embarked once more for Cuba. He prosecuted several campaigns against the Cuban insurgency
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
, marked by successes at Estella and Somorrostro.
On February 4, 1898 Rubín was promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of the Regimento de María Cristina. He conducted himself well at the Battle of Las Guasimas
Battle of Las Guasimas
The Battle of Las Guasimas of June 24, 1898, part of the Spanish-American War, unfolded from Major General "Fighting Joe" Wheeler's attempt to storm a Spanish position in the jungles surrounding Santiago. Commanding a division that included the 1st U.S...
, where his small force fought a very successful rearguard operation, bloodying Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler was an American military commander and politician. He has the rare distinction of serving as a general during war time for two opposing forces: first as a noted cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and later as a general in the...
's V Corps before retiring in good order to Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
. This city was put under siege after a bloody struggle at San Juan Hill
San Juan Hill
San Juan Hill is a series of hills to the east of Santiago, Cuba running north to south and known as the San Juan Heights or in Spanish "Alturas de San Juan" before Spanish-American War of 1898...
and on July 18 General Jose Toral reached an agreement with the Americans and capitulated.
Rubín was one of the few Spanish commanders not discredited by the war. He reached the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in 1908 and became Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
of Galicia in 1917.