Agustín Gamarra
Encyclopedia
Agustín Gamarra Messia was a Peruvian soldier and politician, becoming twice President of Peru from 1829 to 1833 and from 1838 to 1841.
Gamarra was a Mestizo
, being of mixed Spanish
and Quechua descent. He had a military life since childhood, battling against the royalist forces. He then joined the cause of Independence as second in command after Andrés de Santa Cruz
. He also participated in the Battle of Ayacucho
, and was later named Chief of State. After the invasion of Bolivia
in 1828, he was named a mariscal, a highly-esteemed military officer.
After the defeat of José de la Mar
in Gran Colombia
, Gamarra urged his overthrow and assumed the presidency for a brief period after Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente
. The peace treaty with Gran Colombia was also signed during Gamarra's government.
Gamarra finished, with great effort, his first constitutional government. He had a very active character which allowed him to leave Lima
to thwart rebellions in various parts of the country. During such expeditions he would leave the presidency to Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente
, who manifested his authoritarian character and started to receive the enmity of other government officials based in Lima.
. He shared this idea with Andrés de Santa Cruz
. However, while Bolivia did not think of the creation of one single State, Gamarra believed in the incorporation of the Bolivian territory under a single Peruvian nation.
. This led to the Battle of Yungay
and the overthrow of Santa Cruz. Gamarra was then officially named President by the Peruvian congress.
During his second government, Gamarra confronted the challenge of pacifying the country in middle of various subversions while at the same time the beginning of a war against Bolivia. Gamarra was defeated and killed by Bolivian forces during the Battle of Ingavi
in 1841.
Gamarra was a Mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
, being of mixed Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
and Quechua descent. He had a military life since childhood, battling against the royalist forces. He then joined the cause of Independence as second in command after Andrés de Santa Cruz
Andrés de Santa Cruz
Andrés de Santa Cruz y Calahumana was President of Peru and Bolivia...
. He also participated in the Battle of Ayacucho
Battle of Ayacucho
The Battle of Ayacucho was a decisive military encounter during the Peruvian War of Independence. It was the battle that sealed the independence of Peru, as well as the victory that ensured independence for the rest of South America...
, and was later named Chief of State. After the invasion of Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
in 1828, he was named a mariscal, a highly-esteemed military officer.
After the defeat of José de la Mar
José de la Mar
José de la Mar was a South American military leader.He was born in Cuenca in what today is Ecuador. He spent his early childhood in Spain, where he started his military career...
in Gran Colombia
Gran Colombia
Gran Colombia is a name used today for the state that encompassed much of northern South America and part of southern Central America from 1819 to 1831. This short-lived republic included the territories of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, northern Peru and northwest Brazil. The...
, Gamarra urged his overthrow and assumed the presidency for a brief period after Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente
Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente
Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente was a Peruvian politician who also served in the Peruvian military. He was briefly President of Peru from June to September 1829....
. The peace treaty with Gran Colombia was also signed during Gamarra's government.
First Presidency
The government of Gamarra followed contrary beliefs to those of José de la Mar. This coincided with a great Peruvian constitutionalist movement; Gamarra put aside the Constitution of 1828, which he opposed given the limitations that were established for the executive branch.Gamarra finished, with great effort, his first constitutional government. He had a very active character which allowed him to leave 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...
to thwart rebellions in various parts of the country. During such expeditions he would leave the presidency to Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente
Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente
Antonio Gutiérrez de la Fuente was a Peruvian politician who also served in the Peruvian military. He was briefly President of Peru from June to September 1829....
, who manifested his authoritarian character and started to receive the enmity of other government officials based in Lima.
Peru and Bolivia: one and indivisible?
Another idea that obsessed Gamarra was the annexation of BoliviaBolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. He shared this idea with Andrés de Santa Cruz
Andrés de Santa Cruz
Andrés de Santa Cruz y Calahumana was President of Peru and Bolivia...
. However, while Bolivia did not think of the creation of one single State, Gamarra believed in the incorporation of the Bolivian territory under a single Peruvian nation.
Second Presidency and invasion of Bolivia
In 1835, when Orbegoso and Andrés Santa Cruz signed the treaty to establish the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy, Gamarra deeply opposed it and participated in a campaign to defeat it with the help of ChileChile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. This led to the Battle of Yungay
Battle of Yungay
The Battle of Yungay effectively destroyed the Peru-Bolivian Confederation created by Bolivian Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz in 1836...
and the overthrow of Santa Cruz. Gamarra was then officially named President by the Peruvian congress.
During his second government, Gamarra confronted the challenge of pacifying the country in middle of various subversions while at the same time the beginning of a war against Bolivia. Gamarra was defeated and killed by Bolivian forces during the Battle of Ingavi
Battle of Ingavi
The Battle of Ingavi occurred on November 18, in the 1841 in the town of Ingavi, Bolivia. There the Bolivian Army commanded by Jose Ballivian met an invading Peruvian Army commanded by Agustín Gamarra who would later die during the battle....
in 1841.