Giuseppe Rondizzoni
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Rondizzoni was an Italian army officer who contributed to the independence of Chile
.
He was born in Mezzano Superiore
on March 14, 1788. He joined the French Imperial Guard in 1807. With Napoleon's army did the Spanish campaign in 1808 and the Austrian one in 1809. In 1812 he participated in the campaign of Russia
and the year following in that of Germany
. With Napoleon fought till his end: in 1813 and 1814 in Germany (the battles of Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden, Leipzig, Magdeburg). In 1815, with the rank of Captain, gave evidence of great value in Waterloo
. The Napoleonic Wars caused him a total of four wounds, earned him twenty mentions in dispatches for his courage and the Legion of Honor.
Back to Italy
after Waterloo was admitted to the Regiment of the Duchy of Parma
then ruled by Marie Louise of Austria. Later he moved to USA in Philadelphia, in this city, he met the Chilean General Jose Miguel Carrera
and in February 1817 he traveled with him to Buenos Aires
on the schooner Clifton.
In July 1817 he joined the Chilean army and took part in Sorpresa de Cancha Rayada battle. He left the army after the shooting of the Carrera brothers, but came back in 1823 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
.
Rondizzoni participated in the expedition for the liberation of Peru
from the Spaniards earning the rank of Colonel
. Then he took part in the expedition of Chiloe in 1824 and 1826. He participated in the civil war of 1829-1830, fighting with Ramón Freire in the battles of Ochagavía and Lircay. The defeat suffered in the last battle forced him going into exile, first in Peru and then in El Salvador
.
He returned to Chile in 1839, were he was appointed governor of Constitución
on April 12, 1842 and governor of Talcahuano
on August 29, 1849. In 1843 he was promoted to Brigadier General
.
He remained loyal to the government during the Revolution of 1851, fighting in the Battle of Loncomilla. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 1851. That same year he became intendente of Concepción
and intendente of Chiloe in January 1853. In 1861 he took leave of the Army and retired in Valparaiso
where he died on May 24, 1866.
Member of Legione del Meritum de Chile General Rondizzoni is still living in the memory of his adopted country, which has dedicated him streets, squares and monuments and even a fortified work in the port of Talcahuano.
Chile
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...
.
He was born in Mezzano Superiore
Mezzani
Mezzani ) is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 90 km northwest of Bologna and about 15 km northeast of Parma...
on March 14, 1788. He joined the French Imperial Guard in 1807. With Napoleon's army did the Spanish campaign in 1808 and the Austrian one in 1809. In 1812 he participated in the campaign of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the year following in that of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. With Napoleon fought till his end: in 1813 and 1814 in Germany (the battles of Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden, Leipzig, Magdeburg). In 1815, with the rank of Captain, gave evidence of great value in Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. The Napoleonic Wars caused him a total of four wounds, earned him twenty mentions in dispatches for his courage and the Legion of Honor.
Back to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
after Waterloo was admitted to the Regiment of the Duchy of Parma
Duchy of Parma
The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545 from that part of the Duchy of Milan south of the Po River, as a fief for Pope Paul III's illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese, centered on the city of Parma....
then ruled by Marie Louise of Austria. Later he moved to USA in Philadelphia, in this city, he met the Chilean General Jose Miguel Carrera
José Miguel Carrera
José Miguel Carrera Verdugo was a Chilean general, member of the prominent Carrera family, and considered one of the founders of independent Chile. Carrera was the most important leader of the Chilean War of Independence during the period of the Patria Vieja...
and in February 1817 he traveled with him to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
on the schooner Clifton.
In July 1817 he joined the Chilean army and took part in Sorpresa de Cancha Rayada battle. He left the army after the shooting of the Carrera brothers, but came back in 1823 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
.
Rondizzoni participated in the expedition for the liberation of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
from the Spaniards earning the rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. Then he took part in the expedition of Chiloe in 1824 and 1826. He participated in the civil war of 1829-1830, fighting with Ramón Freire in the battles of Ochagavía and Lircay. The defeat suffered in the last battle forced him going into exile, first in Peru and then in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
.
He returned to Chile in 1839, were he was appointed governor of Constitución
Constitución, Chile
Constitución is a seaside resort, industrial city, minor port and commune in Chile, located in the Maule Region, Talca Province.-History:-8.8 magnitude 2010 earthquake:...
on April 12, 1842 and governor of Talcahuano
Talcahuano
Talcahuano is a port city and commune in the Biobío Region of Chile. It is part of the Greater Concepción conurbation. Talcahuano is located in the south of the Central Zone of Chile.-Geography:...
on August 29, 1849. In 1843 he 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...
.
He remained loyal to the government during the Revolution of 1851, fighting in the Battle of Loncomilla. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 1851. That same year he became intendente of Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
and intendente of Chiloe in January 1853. In 1861 he took leave of the Army and retired in Valparaiso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
where he died on May 24, 1866.
Member of Legione del Meritum de Chile General Rondizzoni is still living in the memory of his adopted country, which has dedicated him streets, squares and monuments and even a fortified work in the port of Talcahuano.