Rafael de Izquierdo y Gutíerrez
Encyclopedia
Rafael de Izquierdo y Gutiérrez was a Spanish
Military Officer
, Political Leader
and Statesman
who became Governor-General of the Philippines
from April 4, 1871 to January 8, 1873. He was famous for his use of "Iron Fist" type of government, contradicting the liberal government of his predecessor, Cárlos María de la Torre y Nava Cerrada
. He was the Governor-General during the 1872 Cavite mutiny which led to execution of 41 of the mutineers, including the Gomburza
martyrs. Prior to being Governor-General of the Philippines, Izquierdo also acted as Governor-General of Puerto Rico
from March 1862 to April 1862.
in Navarre
. At the start of the Second Carlist War
which took place in Africa
, Izquierdo was already a lieutenant colonel and at the end of the war brigadier general
. He was then assigned to Lugo, Spain
as military governor in 1861. The following year he was assigned as lieutenant-general to Puerto Rico
before becoming an interim Governor-General when Rafael Echagüe y Bermingham vacated the position. Izquierdo then went back to Spain until in 1868 when he supported the revolution in Andalusia
and was tasked as deputy for Malaga and Alicante in 1869 until 1871.
Replacing General Carlos Maria de la Torre on April 4, 1871, Rafael de Izquierdo was instilled as Governor-General of the Philippines. He was responsible for opening of steamship and telegraph lines in the country. He is was also known to have promptly rescinds the liberal measures thus implementing harsher laws which ignited an uprising. The reformations suggested that soldiers of the Engineering and Artillery Corps should pay taxes which they were previously exempted. Another drastic change was the requirement to perform manual labor. These changes eventually lead to the 1872 Cavite mutiny where around 200 Filipinos who were part of the Engineering and Artillery Corps revolted and killed their Spanish officers, in retaliation a lot of liberals were implicated to have been involved in conspiracy. The most famous of which was the military court condemning the martyr priests Fathers José Burgos
, Mariano Gómez
and Jacinto Zamora
(Gomburza
) to capital punishment by means of garrote
on January 27, 1872. This uprising later lead to the delays of the rebuilding of Malacañang Palace
and in turn almost transferred it within the walls of Intramuros
for safety reasons. The plan to transfer to Intramuros was cut though when Izquierdo fell ill and eventually vacate his position on January 8, 1873. He later spent the last few years of his life in Madrid, Spain and eventually died in 1882.
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....
Military Officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, Political Leader
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
who became Governor-General of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
from April 4, 1871 to January 8, 1873. He was famous for his use of "Iron Fist" type of government, contradicting the liberal government of his predecessor, Cárlos María de la Torre y Nava Cerrada
Carlos María de la Torre y Nava Cerrada
Carlos María de la Torre y Nava Cerrada is considered the most beloved of the Spanish Governors-General ever assigned in the Philippines . He was the assigned Governor-General after the Spanish Revolution of 1869....
. He was the Governor-General during the 1872 Cavite mutiny which led to execution of 41 of the mutineers, including the Gomburza
Gomburza
Gomburza or GOMBURZA is an acronym denoting the surnames of the priests Mariano Gómez, José Apolonio Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, three Filipino priests who were executed on 17 February 1872 at Bagumbayan in Manila, Philippines by Spanish colonial authorities on charges of subversion arising from...
martyrs. Prior to being Governor-General of the Philippines, Izquierdo also acted as Governor-General of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
from March 1862 to April 1862.
Early life
Entering as a cadet in the regiment of infantry of Gerona, Rafael de Izquierdo reached the military rank of captain by the age of 17 when he participated in the First Carlist WarFirst Carlist War
The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain from 1833-1839.-Historical background:At the beginning of the 18th century, Philip V, the first Bourbon king of Spain, promulgated the Salic Law, which declared illegal the inheritance of the Spanish crown by women...
in Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
. At the start of the Second Carlist War
Second Carlist War
The Second Carlist War, or the War of the Matiners or Madrugadores , was a short civil war fought primarily in Catalonia by the Carlists under General Ramón Cabrera against the forces of the government of Isabella II...
which took place in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Izquierdo was already a lieutenant colonel and at the end of the war 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 was then assigned to Lugo, Spain
Lugo
Lugo is a city in northwestern Spain, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It is the capital of the province of Lugo. The municipality had a population of 97,635 in 2010, which makes is the fourth most populated city in Galicia.-Population:...
as military governor in 1861. The following year he was assigned as lieutenant-general to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
before becoming an interim Governor-General when Rafael Echagüe y Bermingham vacated the position. Izquierdo then went back to Spain until in 1868 when he supported the revolution in Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
and was tasked as deputy for Malaga and Alicante in 1869 until 1871.
Philippine Governorship
José Burgos
José Apolonio Burgos y García was a Filipino mestizo secular priest, accused of mutiny by the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines in the 19th century...
, Mariano Gómez
Mariano Gómez
Mariano Gómez y Guard was a Filipino secular priest, part of the Gomburza trio who were falsely accused of mutiny by the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines in the 19th century. He was placed in a mock trial and summarily executed in Manila along with two other clergymen.-Early...
and Jacinto Zamora
Jacinto Zamora
Jacinto Zamora y del Rosario was a Filipino friar, part of the Gomburza trio who were falsely accused of mutiny by the Spanish colonial authorities in the Philippines in the 19th century...
(Gomburza
Gomburza
Gomburza or GOMBURZA is an acronym denoting the surnames of the priests Mariano Gómez, José Apolonio Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, three Filipino priests who were executed on 17 February 1872 at Bagumbayan in Manila, Philippines by Spanish colonial authorities on charges of subversion arising from...
) to capital punishment by means of garrote
Garrote
A garrote or garrote vil is a handheld weapon, most often referring to a ligature of chain, rope, scarf, wire or fishing line used to strangle someone....
on January 27, 1872. This uprising later lead to the delays of the rebuilding of Malacañang Palace
Malacañang Palace
The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang, is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. Located at 1000 J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila, the house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every...
and in turn almost transferred it within the walls of Intramuros
Intramuros
Intramuros is the oldest district in the present day city of Manila, the capital of the Republic of the Philippines. Nicknamed the "Walled City", Intramuros is the historic fortified city of Manila, the seat ot the government during the Spanish Colonial Period. Its name in Latin, intramuros,...
for safety reasons. The plan to transfer to Intramuros was cut though when Izquierdo fell ill and eventually vacate his position on January 8, 1873. He later spent the last few years of his life in Madrid, Spain and eventually died in 1882.
See also
- Philippine revolts against SpainPhilippine revolts against SpainDuring the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, there were several revolts against of the Spanish colonial government by native-born Filipinos and Chinese, often with the goal of re-establishing the rights and powers that had traditionally belonged to tribal chiefs and Chinese traders...
- 1872 Cavite mutiny
- History of the Philippines (1521–1898)History of the Philippines (1521–1898)This article covers the history of the Philippines from the arrival of European explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, up to the end of Spanish rule in 1898.-Spanish expeditions and conquest:...
- Freedom of religion in the Philippines