Figueroa mutiny facts for kids
The Figueroa mutiny (called Motín de Figueroa in Spanish) was a failed attempt on April 1, 1811, to bring back royal power in Chile. It was the first time someone tried to overthrow the government in Chile.
What Led to the Mutiny?
When the First Government Junta decided to hold elections for a National Congress, they let each part of the country choose when to vote. This caused a lot of political arguments among the leaders. News about the wars and political problems in Europe (the Peninsular War) also kept coming in.
It was decided that elections would happen in 1811. By March, most big cities had voted, except for Santiago and Valparaíso. A big surprise came from Concepción, where people who supported the King (called Royalists) won against those who supported the Junta's president, Juan Martínez de Rozas.
In the rest of Chile, the votes were split almost evenly. Twelve delegates supported Rozas, fourteen were against him, and three were Royalists. This made the Santiago elections very important for Rozas to stay in power. These elections were supposed to happen on April 10, but the mutiny started before that.
The Mutiny Begins
The exact reasons for the mutiny were never fully clear. Close to the election day, Lieutenant Colonel Tomás de Figueroa, a Royalist, led the revolt. He thought elections were too much like a popularity contest.
The night before, a group of people (who were never found out) declared Colonel Figueroa their leader. Early on April 1, 1811, he went to the San Pablo Army Barracks. He took command of the soldiers there, believing that all other army groups in Santiago would support him. But he was wrong.
Once he controlled the barracks, Figueroa marched his troops, with drums leading the way, towards the main square. His plan was to take over the government. On his way, he even stopped to politely greet a lady named Mariana de Aguirre who came out to her balcony to watch him pass.
When he reached the government palace, it was empty. Everyone had left after hearing he was coming. Figueroa then went to the Real Audiencia (a high court), which was still meeting peacefully. The judges calmly listened to his demands to bring back the old royal rule. They only agreed to send a note to the government about his requests.
Meanwhile, the members of the Junta, led by Fernando Márquez de la Plata, sent Colonel Juan de Dios Vial del Río with 500 soldiers to stop the mutiny. A short fight happened in the main square. Soon, Figueroa's soldiers ran away or gave up when they realized they had no support. Colonel Figueroa, seeing he was defeated, hid in the Santo Domingo Monastery.
The people of Santiago, led by Father Camilo Henríquez, were very angry at the mutineers. Martínez de Rozas, who had been absent during the whole event, ordered that the monastery be entered and Colonel Figueroa arrested. This was against the rule of sanctuary, which meant people could be safe in a church.
Rozas knew that if he didn't act fast, the public might try to save Figueroa. So, Figueroa was put on trial and sentenced to death in less than 24 hours.
When Figueroa was told he would die, he acted bravely. He refused to name anyone else involved in the plot. He took all the blame himself. He was given four hours to get ready. He was executed the next morning, April 2, 1811, at 3:30 AM. His body, with his face disfigured, was shown publicly in the main square, outside the city jail.
What Happened Next?
The mutiny did stop the elections for a short time. They had to be delayed until November of that year. Also, the revolt was used as an excuse to close the Real Audiencia. This court had been a strong symbol of Spanish control for a long time. After the mutiny, the idea of full independence for Chile grew stronger.
Eventually, the Congress was properly elected. Most of the seats went to moderate leaders. These leaders wanted more freedom for Chile's important families from Spanish rule, but they didn't want to completely break away. A smaller group of revolutionaries wanted complete and immediate independence from Spain.
The public, who had first been angry at Figueroa, soon turned against Rozas. He hadn't led the government's defense, and people feared what might happen if the Royalists returned. This made him very unpopular. It became politically smart to remove him from power quickly.
He was immediately replaced as the leader of the Junta by Fernando Marquez de la Plata. The very next year, his political rival, José Miguel Carrera, sent him away. Rozas never got his power back.
See also
In Spanish: Motín de Figueroa para niños
- Chilean Independence
- History of Chile
- List of Chilean coups d'état
- First Chilean National Congress
