Pedro Santana
Encyclopedia
Pedro Santana y Familias (Pedro Santana y Familias, 1st Marquis of Las Carreras
) (June 29, 1801 June 14, 1864) was a wealthy cattle rancher, soldier, politician and dictator of the Dominican Republic
. He was born in the community of Hinche
, which was part of the Colony of Santo Domingo. Currently, Hinche is a border town part of Haiti
. He was the first constitutional President of the Dominican Republic, and the first Marqués de las Carreras.
, and later to El Seibo
at the eastern part of the country, where he eventually became a cattle rancher.
annexed the country). Thereafter, Santana became Governor
, with the rank of Captain General
of the territory. He continued in this post until 1862. He also received the Spanish noble title of Marqués de las Carreras, which was given as a recognition to his victory in the Battle of Las Carreras.
Santana was characterized by his great military talents, dictatorial tendencies, annexationist desires, and meticulousness in public affairs. Politically, his actions are criticized by many historians, though without doubt he was a great soldier, which is demonstrated by his participation in numerous battles, including: Battle of March 19
; Azua
in 1844; and Battle of Las Carreras
. He also fought with distinction in the Revolution of July 7, 1857, when the residents of Cibao
placed the revolutionary army under his command.
The Congress of the Dominican Republic
awarded him the title of “Liberator of the Nation” on July 18, 1849 for his victory in the Batalla de las Carreras.
, and was a key figure in the successful separation of the Dominican Republic from Haiti. But many historians think that some of his later actions barred him from becoming a genuine national hero.
, shortly after having been awarded the hereditary title of Marqués de las Carreras (28 March 1862) by Queen Isabel II of Spain
, and was buried in the Ozama Fortress next to the Torre del Homenaje.
Marquess of Las Carreras
Marquess of Las Carreras is a title in the Peerage of Spain. It was created in 1862 to the Lieutenant General Pedro Santana, landholder and the 1st, 4th and 8th President of the Dominican Republic, follow his retirement as Governor-General of Santo Domingo in 1862.-Marquesses of Las Carreras :*...
) (June 29, 1801 June 14, 1864) was a wealthy cattle rancher, soldier, politician and dictator of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. He was born in the community of Hinche
Hinche
Hinche is a city in central Haiti. It has a population of about 50,000. It is the capital of Centre department. Hinche is the hometown of Charlemagne Péralte, the Haitian nationalist leader who resisted the United States occupation of Haïti .-Culture:The majority of the population are of African...
, which was part of the Colony of Santo Domingo. Currently, Hinche is a border town part of Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. He was the first constitutional President of the Dominican Republic, and the first Marqués de las Carreras.
Background
His parents were Pedro Santana and Petronila Familias, landowners in the border zone. Around 1805, Santana moved with his family to El CibaoCibao
Cibao, usually referred as "El Cibao", is a region of the Dominican Republic located at the northern part of the country.The Taíno word Cibao, meaning "place where rocks abound", was originally applied to the central mountain range, and used during the Spanish conquest to refer to the rich and...
, and later to El Seibo
El Seibo
El Seibo , alternatively spelt El Seybo, is a province of the Dominican Republic. Before 1992 it included what is now Hato Mayor province.-Municipalities and municipal districts:...
at the eastern part of the country, where he eventually became a cattle rancher.
Military and political role
He held the office of the presidency during the years 1844-1848, 1853–1856, and 1858-1861 (when SpainSpain
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...
annexed the country). Thereafter, Santana became Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
, with the rank of Captain General
Captain General
Captain general is a high military rank and a gubernatorial title.-History:This term Captain General started to appear in the 14th century, with the meaning of commander in chief of an army in the field, probably the first usage of the term General in military settings...
of the territory. He continued in this post until 1862. He also received the Spanish noble title of Marqués de las Carreras, which was given as a recognition to his victory in the Battle of Las Carreras.
Santana was characterized by his great military talents, dictatorial tendencies, annexationist desires, and meticulousness in public affairs. Politically, his actions are criticized by many historians, though without doubt he was a great soldier, which is demonstrated by his participation in numerous battles, including: Battle of March 19
Battle of March 19
The Battle of Azua , was the first major battle of the Dominican War of Independence and was fought on March 19, 1844, at Azua de Compostela, Azua Province...
; Azua
Azua
Azua may refer to:Places:* Azua Province in the Dominican Republic* Azua de Compostela, capital of Azua province in the Dominican RepublicThe Basque surname Azúa:* Goizeder Victoria Azúa Barríos* Félix de AzúaOther:...
in 1844; and Battle of Las Carreras
Battle of Las Carreras
The Battle of Las Carreras, was a major battle during the years after the Dominican War of Independence and was fought on April 21, 1849, nearby Baní, Peravia Province. A force of Dominican troops, a portion of the Army of The South, led by General Pedro Santana, defeated an outnumbering force of...
. He also fought with distinction in the Revolution of July 7, 1857, when the residents of Cibao
Cibao
Cibao, usually referred as "El Cibao", is a region of the Dominican Republic located at the northern part of the country.The Taíno word Cibao, meaning "place where rocks abound", was originally applied to the central mountain range, and used during the Spanish conquest to refer to the rich and...
placed the revolutionary army under his command.
The Congress of the Dominican Republic
Congress of the Dominican Republic
The Congress of the Dominican Republic is the bicameral legislature of the government of the Dominican Republic, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Both senators and deputies are chosen through direct election...
awarded him the title of “Liberator of the Nation” on July 18, 1849 for his victory in the Batalla de las Carreras.
As a Dictator
He is considered a brilliant military strategistMilitary strategy
Military strategy is a set of ideas implemented by military organizations to pursue desired strategic goals. Derived from the Greek strategos, strategy when it appeared in use during the 18th century, was seen in its narrow sense as the "art of the general", 'the art of arrangement' of troops...
, and was a key figure in the successful separation of the Dominican Republic from Haiti. But many historians think that some of his later actions barred him from becoming a genuine national hero.
- After he drove the Haitian army out of the country in the Dominican War of IndependenceDominican War of IndependenceThe Dominican Independence War gave the Dominican Republic independence from Haiti in 1844. Before the war, the whole island of Hispaniola had been under Haitian rule for 22 years when Haiti occupied the newly independent state of Haití Español in 1822....
, he almost immediately moved to eliminate the very Independentists that fought alongside him. Santana felt that the new nation could not survive without being annexed to SpainSpainSpain , 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...
, which the Trinitarian Independentists did not accept.
- He relentlessly arrested or exiled members of La Trinitaria. The very first person that was forced out of the country was Juan Pablo DuarteJuan Pablo DuarteJuan Pablo Duarte y Díez is one of the Founding Fathers of the Dominican Republic. He was a visionary and liberal thinker who along with Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and Matías Ramón Mella is widely considered the architect of the Dominican Republic and its independence from Haitian rule in 1844...
, founding father of the new Dominican Republic.
- Santana attacked María Trinidad SánchezMaría Trinidad SánchezMaría Trinidad Sánchez is a province of the Dominican Republic. It was split from Samaná in 1959. The name commemorates a disginguished female soldier in the wars of independence....
, the first heroine of the Republic and sister of Francisco del Rosario SánchezFrancisco del Rosario SánchezFrancisco Del Rosario Sánchez was a politician and founding father of the Dominican Republic. He is considered by Dominicans as the second leader of the 1844 Dominican War of Independence, after Juan Pablo Duarte and before Ramón Matías Mella. The Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella is...
of the Founding Fathers of the nation. She and Concepción Bona made the first national flag. Santana imprisoned her, tortured her, and sentenced her to death when she refused to name "conspirators" against him in the newly independent republic. Exactly one year after the proclamation of Independence (February 27, 1845) María Trinidad Sánchez was executed by a firing squadExecution by firing squadExecution by firing squad, sometimes called fusillading , is a method of capital punishment, particularly common in the military and in times of war.Execution by shooting is a fairly old practice...
. This made her the first (but not last) female martyrMartyrA martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
of the republic http://www.elcaribe.com.do/articulo_multimedios.aspx?id=454&guid=B60683E923CA448F9BCAC991F7A9CD41&Seccion=92.
- After being defeated in the elections of 1848, he reluctantly handed over the presidency to Manuel JiménesManuel JiménesManuel José Jimenes González was a Cuban born military figure and politician in the Dominican Republic. He served as the second President of the Dominican Republic from August 4, 1848 until May 30, 1849...
, only to overthrow him by force less than a year later.
Last years
On June 16, 1864, Pedro Santana died in the city of Santo DomingoSanto Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, shortly after having been awarded the hereditary title of Marqués de las Carreras (28 March 1862) by Queen Isabel II of Spain
Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
, and was buried in the Ozama Fortress next to the Torre del Homenaje.
External links
- Dominican Republic Heads of State - www.archontology.org
- Pedro Santana Familias - www.27febrero.com (in Spanish) by Miosotis de Jesus