Manuel Ascencio Padilla
Encyclopedia
Commandant
e Manuel Ascencio Padilla (or Manuel Ascensio Padilla) (September 26, 1774 - September 14, 1816) was an Upper Peru
vian guerrilla chief
who fought in the Bolivian War of Independence with his wife, Juana Azurduy de Padilla
who shared his commitment towards Bolivia
n indigenous populations. The town of Padilla, Bolivia
is named in his honor.
, Padilla was born in Chipirina, Upper Peru (now Chipirina, Chayanta Province
, Bolivia
) in 1774, the son of a local landowner. He spent the early years of his life near his hometown, joining the army at an early age.
He participated in the enforcement and execution of Damaso Katari, Tupac Amaru
's successor in La Paz.
Though studying to be a lawyer at the University of Saint Francis Xavier
, Padilla left school to marry Juana Azurduy
(born 1781) in 1805. Her father was Spanish and her mother was Mestizo
.
and briefly fled to hide in the Amerindian villages of the highlands. In 1810, when the city of Cochabamba
refrained from recognizing the May Revolution
, Padilla was named civil and military commander of a wide area between Chuquisaca (today Sucre
), Cochabamba and Santa Cruz de la Sierra
, It was referred to as the Republiqueta de La Laguna ("Republic of La Laguna"). From the town of Padilla (then La Laguna), he was supported by 2,000 Indian guerrillas from Esteban Arce Province
. Padilla was highly esteemed by General Manuel Belgrano
and by Esteban Arze who conferred the title of Commandante upon Padilla. His wife was later honored by Belgrano for her bravery in 1816.
Although he won a victory in the town of Pintatora, he was defeated in Tacobamba. He retired to the south and joined the exodus from Jujuy under the orders of Belgrano. He participated in the battles of Tucuman
and Salta
. He returned to Upper Peru in mid-1813 and brought together a large contingent of nearly ten thousand men. This group of rebellious Indians who supported Bartolomé Mitre
were part of the Republic of La Laguna. Belgrano used them as guides and for the transportation of guns across the mountains. Padilla began an effective guerrilla war against the royalists in Mojotoro, Yamparáez, Tarabuco, Tomin, La Laguna (now "Padilla"), and a neighboring village of Azurduy. Other leaders, such as Ignacio Warnes
, Juan Antonio Álvarez de Arenales and Vicente Camargo, also organized guerrilla resistance. After several weeks of fighting, the enemy seized the four children of Padilla and killed the two boys. Then the girls were used as bait to catch the Padillas. The response of Padilla and his wife, followed by some soldiers, was furious, blindly attacking their enemies to kill them. Though initially rescued, the girls died days later. From that time, he became one of the most violent leaders of Upper Peru.
During the third expedition to Upper Peru, he took the city of Chuquisaca
. After a series of minor battles, his forces were surrounded. Padilla was killed by the royalist Colonel (later General) Francisco Javier Aguilera in El Villar, Upper Peru, (now El Villar, Bolivia) at the Battle of La Laguna while defending his homeland after being pierced by a saber. Padilla was subsequently beheaded
.
Padilla and his wife had five children, only the youngest of whom, a daughter, survived the War of Independence.
and vocal folk music
group Quilapayún
.
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
e Manuel Ascencio Padilla (or Manuel Ascensio Padilla) (September 26, 1774 - September 14, 1816) was an Upper Peru
Upper Peru
Upper Peru was the region in the Viceroyalty of Peru, and after 1776, the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, comprising the governorships of Potosí, La Paz, Cochabamba, Los Chiquitos, Moxos and Charcas...
vian guerrilla chief
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
who fought in the Bolivian War of Independence with his wife, Juana Azurduy de Padilla
Juana Azurduy de Padilla
Doña Juana Azurduy de Padilla was born on July 12, 1780 or 1781 in the town of Chuquisaca, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata . She was Mestizo by ethnicity meaning she was half European and half indigenous. “Her mother married into a family of property” meaning she married into a more wealth family...
who shared his commitment towards 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...
n indigenous populations. The town of Padilla, Bolivia
Padilla, Bolivia
Padilla is a small town in the Chuquisaca Department of Bolivia, located southeast by road from Tomina Province. It is the centre of the municipality of the same name...
is named in his honor.
Early years
A CriolloCriollo people
The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
, Padilla was born in Chipirina, Upper Peru (now Chipirina, Chayanta Province
Chayanta Province
Chayanta Municipality is the second municipal section of the Rafael Bustillo Province in the Bolivian Potosí Department. Its seat is Chayanta.-Location:...
, 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 1774, the son of a local landowner. He spent the early years of his life near his hometown, joining the army at an early age.
He participated in the enforcement and execution of Damaso Katari, Tupac Amaru
Túpac Amaru
Túpac Amaru, also called Thupa Amaro , was the last indigenous leader of the Inca state in Peru.-Accession:...
's successor in La Paz.
Though studying to be a lawyer at the University of Saint Francis Xavier
University of Saint Francis Xavier
The Royal and Pontificial Major University of Saint Francis Xavier of Chuquisaca is a public university in Sucre, Bolivia. It is one of the oldest universities of the new world, ranking as the second oldest university in the Americas behind Peru's National University of San Marcos...
, Padilla left school to marry Juana Azurduy
Juana Azurduy de Padilla
Doña Juana Azurduy de Padilla was born on July 12, 1780 or 1781 in the town of Chuquisaca, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata . She was Mestizo by ethnicity meaning she was half European and half indigenous. “Her mother married into a family of property” meaning she married into a more wealth family...
(born 1781) in 1805. Her father was Spanish and her mother was 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...
.
Career
Padilla joined revolutionaries in the War of Independence on May 25, 1809, the day of the Chuquisaca RevolutionChuquisaca Revolution
The Chuquisaca Revolution was a popular uprising on 25 May 1809 against the governor and intendant of Chuquisaca , Ramón García León de Pizarro. The Real Audiencia of Charcas, with support from the faculty of University of Saint Francis Xavier, deposed the governor and formed a junta...
and briefly fled to hide in the Amerindian villages of the highlands. In 1810, when the city of Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Cochabamba is a city in central Bolivia, located in a valley bearing the same name in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and is the fourth largest city in Bolivia with an urban population of 608,276 and a metropolitan population of more than 1,000,000 people...
refrained from recognizing the May Revolution
May Revolution
The May Revolution was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish colony that included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay...
, Padilla was named civil and military commander of a wide area between Chuquisaca (today Sucre
Sucre
Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m...
), Cochabamba and Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the capital of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia and the largest city in the country...
, It was referred to as the Republiqueta de La Laguna ("Republic of La Laguna"). From the town of Padilla (then La Laguna), he was supported by 2,000 Indian guerrillas from Esteban Arce Province
Esteban Arce Province
Esteban Arce is a province in Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Tarata.- Subdivision :The province is divided into four municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons. The municipalities with their seats are:- External links :...
. Padilla was highly esteemed by General Manuel Belgrano
Manuel Belgrano
Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano , usually referred to as Manuel Belgrano, was an Argentine economist, lawyer, politician, and military leader. He took part in the Argentine Wars of Independence and created the Flag of Argentina...
and by Esteban Arze who conferred the title of Commandante upon Padilla. His wife was later honored by Belgrano for her bravery in 1816.
Although he won a victory in the town of Pintatora, he was defeated in Tacobamba. He retired to the south and joined the exodus from Jujuy under the orders of Belgrano. He participated in the battles of Tucuman
Battle of Tucumán
The Battle of Tucumán was a battle fought on 24 and 25 September 1812 near the Argentine city of San Miguel de Tucumán, during the Argentine War of Independence. The Army of the North, commanded by General Manuel Belgrano, defeated the royalist troops commanded by General Pío de Tristán, who had a...
and Salta
Battle of Salta
The Battle of Salta took place on February 20, 1813 on the plains of Castañares, near the present-day Argentina city of Salta, during the Argentine War of Independence. The Army of the North, under the command of general Manuel Belgrano, defeated for the second time the royalist troops of general...
. He returned to Upper Peru in mid-1813 and brought together a large contingent of nearly ten thousand men. This group of rebellious Indians who supported Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre
Bartolomé Mitre Martínez was an Argentine statesman, military figure, and author. He was the President of Argentina from 1862 to 1868.-Life and times:...
were part of the Republic of La Laguna. Belgrano used them as guides and for the transportation of guns across the mountains. Padilla began an effective guerrilla war against the royalists in Mojotoro, Yamparáez, Tarabuco, Tomin, La Laguna (now "Padilla"), and a neighboring village of Azurduy. Other leaders, such as Ignacio Warnes
Ignacio Warnes
José Ignacio Warnes y García de Zúñiga was an Argentine soldier who fought in the Argentine War of Independence. Son of the mayor of the city of Buenos Aires Manuel Antonio Warnes y Durango and Ana Jacoba García de Zúñiga y Lizola...
, Juan Antonio Álvarez de Arenales and Vicente Camargo, also organized guerrilla resistance. After several weeks of fighting, the enemy seized the four children of Padilla and killed the two boys. Then the girls were used as bait to catch the Padillas. The response of Padilla and his wife, followed by some soldiers, was furious, blindly attacking their enemies to kill them. Though initially rescued, the girls died days later. From that time, he became one of the most violent leaders of Upper Peru.
During the third expedition to Upper Peru, he took the city of Chuquisaca
Sucre
Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m...
. After a series of minor battles, his forces were surrounded. Padilla was killed by the royalist Colonel (later General) Francisco Javier Aguilera in El Villar, Upper Peru, (now El Villar, Bolivia) at the Battle of La Laguna while defending his homeland after being pierced by a saber. Padilla was subsequently beheaded
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
.
Padilla and his wife had five children, only the youngest of whom, a daughter, survived the War of Independence.
Popular culture
The song, Manuel Ascencio Padilla, is included on the 1977 La marche et le drapeau album by the instrumentalInstrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
and vocal folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
group Quilapayún
Quilapayún
Quilapayún are an instrumental and vocal folk music group from Chile and among the longest lasting and most influential exponents of the Nueva Canción Chilena movement. Formed in Chile during the mid-1960s, the group became inseparable with the revolution that occurred in the popular music of the...
.