Timoteo Menéndez
Encyclopedia
Timoteo Menéndez was a Salvadoran politician. Twice he served as acting head of state of El Salvador, when it was a state within the Federal Republic of Central America
(1837 and 1838–39).
He first took over the office from Diego Vigil Cocaña
, on May 23, 1837, serving for a little over two weeks, until June 7, 1837. During these days he continued the fight against the cholera
epidemic that had struck the country. He also fought Indigenous insurgents at Zacatecoluca and Cojutepeque
, who had attacked the garrison at San Vicente
. Because of the revolt he suspended constitutional guarantees in the departments of Cuscatlán
and San Vicente
. Vigil returned to office on May 23.
Once again, on January 6, 1838, Vigil turned over authority to Menéndez, who governed this time for more than a year, until May 23, 1839. On February 24, 1838, the Legislative Assembly merged the municipalities of Asunción and Dolorez Izalco, under the name of Villa Izalco
.
On October 28, 1838 Conservative General Rafael Carrera
, in command of 600 infantry and 200 cavalry from Guatemala
, invaded the State of El Salvador. His forces took the cities of Santa Ana
and Ahuachapán, afterwards committing atrocities. Liberal General Francisco Morazán
defeated Carrera at Chiquimula
, taking prisoners and capturing military equipment.
On February 23, 1839, forces from Honduras
and Nicaragua
invaded El Salvador. Menéndez named General Morazán general-in-chief of the Salvadoran army. On April 6, 1839, Morazán defeated the invading force in the battle of Espiritu Santo.
In accordance with a legislative decree of April 22, 1839, Menéndez prohibited the circulation of coins named maquiquinas and morlacos.
On May 23, 1839 he turned over power to Colonel Antonio José Cañas
.
Federal Republic of Central America
The Federal Republic of Central America, known as the United Provinces of Central America in its first year of creation, was a sovereign state in Central America, which consisted of the territories of the former Captaincy General of Guatemala of New Spain...
(1837 and 1838–39).
He first took over the office from Diego Vigil Cocaña
Diego Vigil Cocaña
Diego Vigil Cocaña was a Central American politician. He was the last president of the Federal Republic of Central America , during its disintegration...
, on May 23, 1837, serving for a little over two weeks, until June 7, 1837. During these days he continued the fight against the cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic that had struck the country. He also fought Indigenous insurgents at Zacatecoluca and Cojutepeque
Cojutepeque
Cojutepeque is the capital city of El Salvador's Cuscatlán department. It also serves as the administrative centre for the surrounding municipality of Cojutepeque...
, who had attacked the garrison at San Vicente
San Vicente, El Salvador
San Vicente is a municipality in the San Vicente department of El Salvador. It was founded by 50 Spanish families in 1635, under the Tempisque tree, which is still standing today....
. Because of the revolt he suspended constitutional guarantees in the departments of Cuscatlán
Cuscatlán Department
Cuscatlán is a department of El Salvador, located in the center of the country. With a surface area of , it is El Salvador's smallest department. It is inhabited by over 200,000 people. Cuscatlán or Cuzcatlán was the name the original inhabitants of the Western part of the country gave to most of...
and San Vicente
San Vicente Department
San Vicente is a department of El Salvador in the center of the country. The capital is San Vicente. On October 4, 1834, San Vicente City of Austria and Lorenzana was made the capital of State of El Salvador during the Federal Republic of Central America...
. Vigil returned to office on May 23.
Once again, on January 6, 1838, Vigil turned over authority to Menéndez, who governed this time for more than a year, until May 23, 1839. On February 24, 1838, the Legislative Assembly merged the municipalities of Asunción and Dolorez Izalco, under the name of Villa Izalco
Izalco
Izalco is a municipality in the Sonsonate department of El Salvador.Volcan Izalco is an icon of the country of El Salvador, a very young parasitic cone on the flank of Santa Ana volcano...
.
On October 28, 1838 Conservative General Rafael Carrera
Rafael Carrera
José Rafael Carrera Turcios was the ruler of Guatemala from 1844 to 1848 and from 1851 until his death in 1865. During his military career and presidency, the new nations in Central America faced numerous problems...
, in command of 600 infantry and 200 cavalry from Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, invaded the State of El Salvador. His forces took the cities of Santa Ana
Santa Ana, El Salvador
Santa Ana is the second largest city in El Salvador, located 64 kilometers west of San Salvador, the capital city. Santa Ana has approximately 274,830 inhabitants and serves both as the capital of the department of Santa Ana and...
and Ahuachapán, afterwards committing atrocities. Liberal General Francisco Morazán
Francisco Morazán
General Francisco Morazán was a Honduran general and a politician who ruled several Central American states at different times during the turbulent period from 1827 to 1842. He rose to prominence at the legendary Battle of La Trinidad on November 11, 1827...
defeated Carrera at Chiquimula
Chiquimula
Chiquimula is a city in Guatemala. It serves both as the capital of the department of Chiquimula and as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name....
, taking prisoners and capturing military equipment.
On February 23, 1839, forces from Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
invaded El Salvador. Menéndez named General Morazán general-in-chief of the Salvadoran army. On April 6, 1839, Morazán defeated the invading force in the battle of Espiritu Santo.
In accordance with a legislative decree of April 22, 1839, Menéndez prohibited the circulation of coins named maquiquinas and morlacos.
On May 23, 1839 he turned over power to Colonel Antonio José Cañas
Antonio José Cañas
Antonio José Cañas Quintanilla was a Salvadoran military officer, diplomat, and politician. For two brief periods he was head of state of the State of El Salvador, within the Federal Republic of Central America ....
.