Bernardino Caballero
Encyclopedia
Bernardino Caballero Melgarejo (20 May 1839, Ybycuí
, Paraguay
- 26 February 1912, Asunción
) was the President of Paraguay
from 1881 until 1886 and founder of the Colorado Party
.
A descendant from Spanish nobility, he was the son of Jose Ramón Caballero de Anazco (a descendant from Túpac Huallpa
through Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
) and his wife Melchora Inés Melgarejo y Genés. Married twice, to María de la Concepción Díaz de Bedoya and to Julia Álvarez, without issue. From the first marriage he had two children, Ramon Caballero de Bedoya, married to Martha Cahen, and had issue, and Melchora Caballero de Bedoya, married to her distant cousin Carlos Francisco Saguier Pereira, and had issue. Outside of his marriages he had a further 90 children, all formally recognized by him, and thus today he has a myriad of descendants.
Born in Ybycuí
, he joined the Paraguayan Army
while still young and fought in the War of the Triple Alliance
. During the war, he became the assistant of President Francisco Solano López
, in Humaitá
and remaining loyal, rose through the ranks. He became an increasingly important leader of rearguard actions, eventually becoming a General
.
After the death of Juan Bautista Gill
in 1877, he helped ensure his friend Cándido Barreiro gained the presidency. Soon after Barreiro's death he organised a coup and took the presidency for himself, during which period he privatised much of the land in Paraguay to raise money.
Caballero rigged the 1886 election to ensure the victory Patricio Escobar
, his favoured candidate. In response, his opponents founded the Liberal Party
and he then founded the Colorado Party. Out of office, Caballero maintained a large degree of control as he remained commander of the army. His favoured candidates controlled the country until 1894, when Juan Bautista Eguzquiza overthrew Juan Gualberto González
. Caballero helped to organise another coup in 1902, putting Juan Antonio Escurra
in power, but after Escurra's overthrow by the Argentine Army, the Liberals took power.
The Paraguayan town of General Bernadino Caballero
is named after him.
Ybycuí
Ybycuí is a Paraguayan rural community of the department of Paraguari, located 120 km away from Asunción,and 40 km from the Ruta una .- Demography :...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
- 26 February 1912, Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
) was the President of Paraguay
President of Paraguay
The President of Paraguay is according to the Paraguayan Constitution the Chief of the Executive branch of the Government of Paraguay...
from 1881 until 1886 and founder of the Colorado Party
Colorado Party (Paraguay)
The National Republican Association – Colorado Party is a political party in Paraguay, founded in 1887 by Bernardino Caballero. It is usually known as the Colorado Party...
.
A descendant from Spanish nobility, he was the son of Jose Ramón Caballero de Anazco (a descendant from Túpac Huallpa
Tupac Huallpa
Túpac Huallpa , original name Auqui Huallpa Túpac, was a puppet Inca Emperor of the conquistadors in 1533, during the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire led by Francisco Pizarro.-Life:...
through Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
Garcilaso de la Vega , born Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, was a historian and writer from the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru. The son of a Spanish conquistador and an Inca noblewoman, he is recognized primarily for his contributions to Inca history, culture, and society...
) and his wife Melchora Inés Melgarejo y Genés. Married twice, to María de la Concepción Díaz de Bedoya and to Julia Álvarez, without issue. From the first marriage he had two children, Ramon Caballero de Bedoya, married to Martha Cahen, and had issue, and Melchora Caballero de Bedoya, married to her distant cousin Carlos Francisco Saguier Pereira, and had issue. Outside of his marriages he had a further 90 children, all formally recognized by him, and thus today he has a myriad of descendants.
Born in Ybycuí
Ybycuí
Ybycuí is a Paraguayan rural community of the department of Paraguari, located 120 km away from Asunción,and 40 km from the Ruta una .- Demography :...
, he joined the Paraguayan Army
Paraguayan army
The Paraguayan Army is an institution of the State of Paraguay, organized into three divisions and 9, and several commands and directions, went to war on two occasions, in the War of the Triple Alliance v Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay and Chaco War v Bolivia.- Mission :* Maintaining the sanctity...
while still young and fought in the War of the Triple Alliance
War of the Triple Alliance
The Paraguayan War , also known as War of the Triple Alliance , was a military conflict in South America fought from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay...
. During the war, he became the assistant of President Francisco Solano López
Francisco Solano López (politician)
Francisco Solano López Carrillo was president of Paraguay from 1862 until his death in 1870. He was officially the eldest son of president Carlos Antonio López, whom he succeeded...
, in Humaitá
Humaitá
Humaitá is a town on the Paraguay River in southern Paraguay. During the War of the Triple Alliance, it served as the main Paraguayan stronghold from 1866 until its fall in August 1868. During that time, it housed as many as 24,000 troops...
and remaining loyal, rose through the ranks. He became an increasingly important leader of rearguard actions, eventually becoming a 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....
.
After the death of Juan Bautista Gill
Juan Bautista Gill
Juan Bautista Gill García was President of Paraguay from November 25, 1874 to April 12, 1877.Juan Bautista Gill Garcia del Barrio was born in Asunción. In 1854 he traveled to Buenos Aires where he did his secondary education and medical training, which he failed to finish. His parents were Juan...
in 1877, he helped ensure his friend Cándido Barreiro gained the presidency. Soon after Barreiro's death he organised a coup and took the presidency for himself, during which period he privatised much of the land in Paraguay to raise money.
Caballero rigged the 1886 election to ensure the victory Patricio Escobar
Patricio Escobar
-His life:He was born in San José de los Arroyos on March 17, 1843. His parents were José Escobar and Ana Bella Cáceres. He was married first with Ignacia Garcete and later with Estalación E. The General Escobar was a hero in War of Paraguay against the Triple Alliance.He was a private in the base...
, his favoured candidate. In response, his opponents founded the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Paraguay)
The Liberal Party , commonly known as the Blue Party was a political party in Paraguay, ruling the country for most of the period between 1904 and 1940.-References:...
and he then founded the Colorado Party. Out of office, Caballero maintained a large degree of control as he remained commander of the army. His favoured candidates controlled the country until 1894, when Juan Bautista Eguzquiza overthrew Juan Gualberto González
Juan Gualberto González
-His life:Juan Gualberto González was born in Asunción on July 12, 1851. He married with teacher Rosa Peña Guanez, daughter of Rosario Guanes and Manuel Pedro Peña....
. Caballero helped to organise another coup in 1902, putting Juan Antonio Escurra
Juan Antonio Escurra
President of Paraguay from 1902 to 1904.He was born on May 6, 1859 in Caraguatay, Cordillera department. He was married with Josefa M. Rojas, woman from a traditional family, who later would be the First Lady of the nation. His family worked growing cotton, corn and fruits...
in power, but after Escurra's overthrow by the Argentine Army, the Liberals took power.
The Paraguayan town of General Bernadino Caballero
General Bernardino Caballero (Paraguarí)
General Bernardino Caballero is a town and a district in the Paraguarí Department of Paraguay. It is named after Bernardino Caballero, President of Paraguay from 1881 until 1886.-Location:...
is named after him.