The Revolution of the 44 or Revolución de los 44 refers to a group of Guatemala

Guatemala

Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...

n rebels, known as the 44 who rebelled against the government of the general Carlos Ezeta

Carlos Ezeta

Carlos Basilio Ezeta was President of El Salvador 22 June 1890 - 9 June 1894.He was a military ruler....

 in 1894 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...

. They took the city of Santa Ana

Santa Ana, El Salvador

Santa Ana is the second largest city in El Salvador, located 64 kilometers west of San Salvador, the capital city. Santa Ana has approximately 274,830 inhabitants and serves both as the capital of the department of Santa Ana and...

. and forced the authorities and the president out.

Background

Carlos Ezeta became president of the country in 1891 after a treason

Treason

In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...

. He had been under the orders of the general Francisco Menéndez Valdivieso from the presidential administration of 1887. Taking advantage of a celebration from a past military victory, on 22 June of 1890, the loyal troops of Ezeta by surprise took the residence of the president where the celebrations were followed. There they proclaimed to the public that they had usurped power, during which Francisco Menéndez suffered a heart attack.

Revolution

Ezeta became president officially on March 1 of 1891. With his brother, Antonio, he directed a government from the quarter of the Second Brigade of Infantry. In the year 1894, the rejection to his government increased and numerous conspirators who were known to desire to uproot the government were persecuted. While many fled to Guatemala

Guatemala

Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...

, on April 29 of that year, 44 rebels led by Doroteo Caballero came across the border from that country to Santa Ana. There they took the quarter and they demanded the surrender of the troops. The government was reorganized to put down the rebellion. Antonio Ezeta retreated to Coatepeque

Coatepeque

Coatepeque may refer to either of the following geographical locations:*El Salvador**Coatepeque, Santa Ana**Coatepeque Caldera*Guatemala**Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango...

, where he requested reinforcements to be send into Santa Ana. Although there was disagreement and disorganization over the control of the city, many guards were known to be sympathetic to the attacks. However, in spite of a new siege of the official troops and bloody attacks, the rebel forces managed to stay firm until May without Ezeta's men defeating them. However on May 16, official troops eventually overcame the rebels, largely helped by General Escobar who restored order to the situation.

Flight of Ezeta

On day 21, the event debilitated the governors elsewhere. The Ezeta brothers travelled to Chalatenango

Chalatenango

Chalatenango can refer to:* the Chalatenango Department in El Salvador* the city Chalatenango in El Salvador...

. New victories in the Malakoff hill and “Las Marias” on day 24 saw a rebel counter-attack. Antonio Ezeta later left for Coatepeque

Coatepeque

Coatepeque may refer to either of the following geographical locations:*El Salvador**Coatepeque, Santa Ana**Coatepeque Caldera*Guatemala**Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango...

, and the rebels moved in to Opico

Opico

Opico is a municipality in the La Libertad department of El Salvador.It is located 42 kilometers from San Salvador, capital of the republic. The municipality has an area of 218 km² and a population of 74,280 inhabitants; according to the 2007 census it is ranked No. 13 in population...

, near the capital, under the orders of the generals Tomás Regalado and Salvador Avila and the colonel Emilio Calderón.
As this new force proved too powerful, the Ezeta brothers were forced to flee the country in exile by water. Provisional president Rafael Antonio Gutierrez

Rafael Antonio Gutiérrez

General Rafael Antonio Gutiérrez was born in Ilobasco, Cabañas Department, El Salvador. His father was a Spaniard and his mother was named Marcela Gutierrez...

 entered the capital on 29 July of 1894. Later, General Tomás Regalado who was instrumental in the downfall of Ezeta's regime became President of El Salvador

President of El Salvador

This page contains a list of Presidents of El Salvador.-Heads of State of El Salvador within the Federal Republic of Central America :*Pedro Barriere : 21 September 1821 - 28 November 1821*José Matías Delgado : 28 Nov 1821 - 9 February 1823...

from 1898 to 1903.