Revolt of the Comuneros (Paraguay)
Encyclopedia
The Revolt of the Comuneros is a series of uprisings by settlers in Paraguay
against the Spanish
authorities lasting from 1721 to 1732. Underlying causes were economic, but there were also issues of freedom
and self-government. It is one of the first uprisings against Spanish colonial rule
.
Its leader was José de Antequera y Castro
(1690–1731), a judge for the Audiencia of Panama, who was sent to Asunción
to examine charges against Diego de los Reyes Balmaceda, who had been named governor by the Spanish viceroy
at the request of the Jesuits. Antequera, however, took sides with the settlers, who elected him governor.
In 1724 Viceroy José de Armendáriz
sent in troops, who defeated the Comuneros. Antequera was captured, imprisoned for five years at Lima
, and, on 5 July 1731, shot on his way to his execution. Further revolts in Asunción in 1730 and 1732 led by Ferdinand Mompox were quelled.
were made, Don Pedro de Mendoza, the governor, died. The crown subsequently issued the Royal Decree of 12 September 1537, which stated that in the event of the death of the governor, a replacement would be elected by a vote of the people. Because of its remoteness, this royal decree was used frequently in Asuncion, to elect their rulers. For example, in 1544, Don Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca
, an appointed governor, was in office less than two years before he was deposed, arrested and returned to Spain. The settlers then re-elected their former governor, Domingo Martínez de Irala
by popular vote.
Ferdinand Mompox (also Fernando Mompó y Zayas) was the theoretician for the revolts. The usurption of royal authority by Antequera was done under the doctrine that "the authority of the people is superior to that of the king". Also it was stated that the authority of the cabildo (town hall)
gets its legitimacy from the common man. It must be noted that the concept that "the sovereignty of the community is superior to all written law" was a radical thought at the time. Ferdinand Mompox, also used the motto "Community and Freedom".
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...
against the Spanish
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...
authorities lasting from 1721 to 1732. Underlying causes were economic, but there were also issues of freedom
Freedom (political)
Political freedom is a central philosophy in Western history and political thought, and one of the most important features of democratic societies...
and self-government. It is one of the first uprisings against Spanish colonial rule
Spanish colonization of the Americas
Colonial expansion under the Spanish Empire was initiated by the Spanish conquistadores and developed by the Monarchy of Spain through its administrators and missionaries. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions...
.
Its leader was José de Antequera y Castro
José de Antequera y Castro
José de Antequera y Castro was a Panamanian lawyer and judge in Peru , and the leader of an insurrection in Paraguay against the viceroy and the king.-Early career:...
(1690–1731), a judge for the Audiencia of Panama, who was sent to 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...
to examine charges against Diego de los Reyes Balmaceda, who had been named governor by the Spanish viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
at the request of the Jesuits. Antequera, however, took sides with the settlers, who elected him governor.
In 1724 Viceroy José de Armendáriz
José de Armendáriz
José de Armendáriz y Perurena, 1st Marquis of Castelfuerte was a Spanish soldier and colonial administrator. From May 14, 1724 to February 4, 1736 he was viceroy of Peru.-Early career:He entered the military and fought in the War of the Spanish Succession, on the side of Philip V of Spain...
sent in troops, who defeated the Comuneros. Antequera was captured, imprisoned for five years at Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, and, on 5 July 1731, shot on his way to his execution. Further revolts in Asunción in 1730 and 1732 led by Ferdinand Mompox were quelled.
Philosophy
Shortly after the first settlements on the Rio de la PlataRío de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
were made, Don Pedro de Mendoza, the governor, died. The crown subsequently issued the Royal Decree of 12 September 1537, which stated that in the event of the death of the governor, a replacement would be elected by a vote of the people. Because of its remoteness, this royal decree was used frequently in Asuncion, to elect their rulers. For example, in 1544, Don Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was a Spanish explorer of the New World, one of four survivors of the Narváez expedition...
, an appointed governor, was in office less than two years before he was deposed, arrested and returned to Spain. The settlers then re-elected their former governor, Domingo Martínez de Irala
Domingo Martínez de Irala
Domingo Martínez de Irala was a Spanish Basque conquistador.He headed for the Americas in 1535 enrolled in the expedition of Pedro de Mendoza and participated in the founding of Buenos Aires...
by popular vote.
Ferdinand Mompox (also Fernando Mompó y Zayas) was the theoretician for the revolts. The usurption of royal authority by Antequera was done under the doctrine that "the authority of the people is superior to that of the king". Also it was stated that the authority of the cabildo (town hall)
Cabildo (council)
For a discussion of the contemporary Spanish and Latin American cabildo, see Ayuntamiento.A cabildo or ayuntamiento was a former Spanish, colonial administrative council that governed a municipality. Cabildos were sometimes appointed, sometimes elected, but were considered to be representative of...
gets its legitimacy from the common man. It must be noted that the concept that "the sovereignty of the community is superior to all written law" was a radical thought at the time. Ferdinand Mompox, also used the motto "Community and Freedom".