Carlos Luis de Urrutia facts for kids

Carlos Luis de Urrutia (1750-1825) was an important Spanish leader who worked as a military commander and a colonial administrator. This means he was a high-ranking officer in the army and also helped manage lands that were under Spanish control far from Spain. He played a key role in stopping a big rebellion in Mexico. Because of his actions, he was given important jobs, first as the Governor of Santo Domingo and later as the top military leader in Guatemala.

A Spanish Leader in the Americas

Carlos Luis de Urrutia was born in 1750 and lived until 1825. He was a Spanish official who spent much of his career working for Spain in the Americas. During this time, many countries in the Americas were colonies of European powers like Spain. This meant they were ruled by Spain, even though they were far away. Urrutia's jobs involved both leading soldiers and helping to govern these Spanish territories.

Stopping a Rebellion in Mexico

One of Urrutia's most important actions was helping to put down a major rebellion in Mexico. This uprising was led by a man named Miguel Hidalgo. In the early 1800s, many people in Mexico wanted to be free from Spanish rule. Miguel Hidalgo started a movement for independence, which led to a large-scale fight against the Spanish government.

Carlos de Urrutia, as a military commander, was involved in the efforts to stop this rebellion. His actions helped the Spanish authorities regain control in some areas. This was a very challenging time in history, as many parts of the Americas were fighting for their freedom.

Governing Spanish Colonies

Because of his success in Mexico, Carlos de Urrutia was given even more important roles. In 1813, he was made the Governor of Santo Domingo. This island, now known as the Dominican Republic, was a Spanish colony. As governor, Urrutia was in charge of managing the daily life, laws, and defense of the colony. He held this position for five years, until 1818.

After his time in Santo Domingo, Urrutia was appointed as the supreme military commander of Guatemala in 1818. This was an even higher position, making him the top military leader in the region. He was responsible for all Spanish military forces in Guatemala, which at the time included much of Central America. He served in this role until 1821.

End of His Time in Guatemala

In 1821, Guatemala declared its independence from Spain. This meant that the people of Guatemala no longer wanted to be ruled by Spain and decided to form their own country. When this happened, Carlos de Urrutia, as a Spanish official, could no longer stay in his position. He left Guatemala and went to Cuba, which was still a Spanish colony at the time. This marked the end of his long career as a Spanish leader in the Americas.