Quentin Bandera
Encyclopedia
General José Quintín Bandera Betancourt (ca. 1846 – 1906), also Quentin Bandera and Quintin Bandera, was a military leader of the Cuba
n insurrection against the Spanish during the Cuban War of Independence
. In 1906, Bandera, "himself almost a full-blooded Negro," led an army of insurgents toward Havana
, and was killed near Punta Brava
, a village close to Havana.
from Havana Province. He fought alongside General Calixto García
, and alongside Máximo Gómez
with his ragged band of "Orientales." In 1899, he was considered a leader of the colored population of Santiago de Cuba Province
. He had become popular with black population of the island as a whole, thousands of whom had welcomed him to Havana in 1900 and had carried him through the city's streets for hours, and was known for delivering fiery speeches about how the new republic did not reward its black citizens.
In 1906, insurrection broke out against the presidency of Tomás Estrada Palma, Cuba's first president after independence. Minor protests had already taken place the year before, but in August 1906 a band led by Pino Guerra started a more serious uprising in Pinar del Río Province. One general suspected of participating was José Miguel Gómez
, later president of Cuba, who was quickly arrested and jailed. During that time, General Bandera, "that sexagenarian hero of all the blacks in the island," moved at the head of a group of a thousand black insurgents toward Havana and occupied a railroad station. Bandera had lost his office and broke into the Cuban senate, but instead of being made chief of police, as he demanded, he was appointed "parliamentary doorkeeper." He consequently took up arms.
At the Silveira farm near Punta Brava, Bandera made his last stand with twenty of his followers. He was surrounded by troops led by General Freyre Andrade, and a group of Rural Guards stormed the farm. Most of the insurgents managed to slip away, leaving only Bandera and two of his comrades: shot multiple times, according to reports, he continued "wielding his machete until the foe had cut him to pieces." The three bodies were "horribly mutilated by machete cuts" and moved to Havana to be put on display. Bandera's death put a momentary stop to the 1906 insurrection; he was approximately sixty years when he died.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n insurrection against the Spanish during the Cuban War of Independence
Cuban War of Independence
Cuban War of Independence was the last of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain, the other two being the Ten Years' War and the Little War...
. In 1906, Bandera, "himself almost a full-blooded Negro," led an army of insurgents toward Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, and was killed near Punta Brava
Punta Brava
Punta Brava is a small town and suburb of Havana, Cuba, located to the southwest of Havana, with a population of roughly 1500 inhabitants. It has been the site of different military encounters during Cuba's struggle for independence, and is most notable as the site where Cuban General Antonio Maceo...
, a village close to Havana.
Biography
Bandera was a hero of the Cuban War of Independence, "noted for his fearlessness and bravery," during which he had distinguished himself by breaking through the Spanish line which separated Pinar del Río ProvincePinar del Río Province
Pinar del Río is one of the provinces of Cuba. It is at the western end of the island of Cuba.-Geography:The Pinar del Río province is Cuba's westernmost province and contains one of Cuba's three main mountain ranges, the Cordillera de Guaniguanico, divided into the easterly Sierra del Rosario and...
from Havana Province. He fought alongside General Calixto García
Calixto García
Calixto García e Iñiguez was a general in three Cuban uprisings, part of the Cuban War for Independence: Ten Years' War, the Little War and the War of 1895, itself sometimes called the Cuban War for Independence, which bled into the Spanish-American War, ultimately resulting in national...
, and alongside Máximo Gómez
Máximo Gómez
Máximo Gómez y Báez was a Major General in the Ten Years' War and Cuba's military commander in that country's War of Independence ....
with his ragged band of "Orientales." In 1899, he was considered a leader of the colored population of Santiago de Cuba Province
Santiago de Cuba Province
Santiago de Cuba Province is the second most populated province in the island of Cuba. The largest city Santiago de Cuba is the main administrative center...
. He had become popular with black population of the island as a whole, thousands of whom had welcomed him to Havana in 1900 and had carried him through the city's streets for hours, and was known for delivering fiery speeches about how the new republic did not reward its black citizens.
In 1906, insurrection broke out against the presidency of Tomás Estrada Palma, Cuba's first president after independence. Minor protests had already taken place the year before, but in August 1906 a band led by Pino Guerra started a more serious uprising in Pinar del Río Province. One general suspected of participating was José Miguel Gómez
José Miguel Gómez
José Miguel Gómez y Gómez was a Cuban General in the Cuban War of Independence who went on to become President of Cuba.-Early career:...
, later president of Cuba, who was quickly arrested and jailed. During that time, General Bandera, "that sexagenarian hero of all the blacks in the island," moved at the head of a group of a thousand black insurgents toward Havana and occupied a railroad station. Bandera had lost his office and broke into the Cuban senate, but instead of being made chief of police, as he demanded, he was appointed "parliamentary doorkeeper." He consequently took up arms.
At the Silveira farm near Punta Brava, Bandera made his last stand with twenty of his followers. He was surrounded by troops led by General Freyre Andrade, and a group of Rural Guards stormed the farm. Most of the insurgents managed to slip away, leaving only Bandera and two of his comrades: shot multiple times, according to reports, he continued "wielding his machete until the foe had cut him to pieces." The three bodies were "horribly mutilated by machete cuts" and moved to Havana to be put on display. Bandera's death put a momentary stop to the 1906 insurrection; he was approximately sixty years when he died.
External links
- Report from the Bruce Herald detailing an act of cruelty by Bandera, 1900