Juan Felipe Ibarra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Felipe Ibarra
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| Governor of Santiago del Estero | |
| In office 31 March 1820 – 27 May 1830 |
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| Preceded by | none |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Alcorta |
| Governor of Santiago del Estero | |
| In office 16 February 1832 – 15 July 1851 |
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| Preceded by | Santiago de Palacio |
| Succeeded by | Mauro Carranza |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 May 1787 Monteros |
| Died | 15 July 1851 (aged 64) Villa Matara, Santiago del Estero Province |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Occupation | Soldier |
Juan Felipe Ibarra (born May 1, 1787 – died July 15, 1851) was an Argentine soldier and politician. He was one of the powerful leaders, called caudillos, who played a big role in shaping Argentina. He governed his home province of Santiago del Estero for many years.
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Early Life and Military Career
Juan Felipe Ibarra was born on May 1, 1787, in a place called Villa Matara. This village was once a defense post against attacks from local indigenous groups. His family were ranchers and soldiers from Santiago. He went to school at the College of Monserrat in Córdoba.
In late 1810, after the May Revolution that started Argentina's independence, Ibarra joined the army. He fought in several important battles in Upper Peru (now Bolivia), like the Battle of Huaqui and the Battle of Tucumán. He was promoted to Captain and then to Sergeant Major for his bravery.
By late 1816, he was made Lieutenant Colonel and put in charge of Fort Abipones. This fort protected his home province from attacks. Here, he became well-respected by soldiers, farmers, and cowboys (gauchos).
He later supported Colonel Major Juan Bautista Bustos during a military event called the Arequito mutiny. After this, he returned to Fort Abipones with help from Estanislao López, the governor of Santa Fe.
At that time, Tucumán Province (which included Santiago del Estero) wanted a "federalist" government. This meant provinces would have more power. The governor of Tucumán, Colonel Bernabé Araoz, confirmed Ibarra's rank. However, Aráoz didn't give Santiago del Estero enough importance. So, people who wanted their province to be independent asked Ibarra for help. He took control of the capital city. On March 21, 1820, the local government named him Governor.
Governing Santiago del Estero
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Governor Aráoz of Tucumán tried to take back Santiago del Estero by force. Ibarra asked for help from Martín Miguel de Güemes, the governor of Salta. Together, they invaded Tucumán. Even though they lost the battle, their actions made Aráoz agree to a treaty in June 1821. This treaty recognized Santiago del Estero as an independent province.
Ibarra's government was not focused on education or public works. He mostly managed what was already there. His main goals were to protect the province from enemies, especially the Chaco Indians, and keep the roads in good condition. He only managed to open one school in the capital.
He sent representatives to the National Congress in Buenos Aires. When these representatives supported the "Unitarian" party (who wanted a strong central government), Ibarra chose new ones who would support the "Federalist" party (who wanted more power for the provinces). When the Congress created a Unitarian constitution, Ibarra rejected it.
In 1825, Colonel Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid tried to force Unitarian governments on other provinces. He invaded Tucumán and Catamarca. Juan Facundo Quiroga, a leader from Rioja, asked Ibarra for help. But then, the governor of Salta sent an army to Santiago. Ibarra used a clever strategy: he made everyone leave the capital and cut off the city's water supply. He then fought the invaders using guerrilla tactics, forcing them to leave.
Quiroga defeated Lamadrid, but Lamadrid soon regained power. Later, Quiroga and Ibarra's armies attacked Lamadrid again. They defeated him in July 1827 at the Battle of Rincón de Valladares.
Short Exile and Return to Power
When the Unitarian government in Buenos Aires fell, Ibarra supported the new Federalist government. However, in December 1828, the Federalist governor was overthrown. Soon after, General José María Paz invaded Córdoba and removed its Federalist governor. Ibarra believed Paz's promises of peace. But after Facundo Quiroga's forces were defeated, Paz sent armies to provinces allied with Quiroga, setting up Unitarian governments.
In May 1830, Unitarian forces from Tucumán and Salta invaded Santiago and took the capital. This time, Ibarra didn't use his usual tactics and had to flee to Santa Fe. His brother tried to gather men to fight back but was defeated.
A Unitarian governor was appointed, who joined the "League of the Interior," led by Paz. However, groups in Santiago started a guerrilla war and forced the Unitarian governor out in April 1831. Around the same time, General Paz was captured by Federalist forces.
Ibarra didn't rush back to power. He let a local landowner govern while the Unitarian army was being defeated by Quiroga. Ibarra joined Quiroga's forces in the Battle of La Ciudadela in November 1831. This battle helped end the civil war for a while.
In February 1832, Ibarra was elected governor again. He wanted a Federalist national constitution, but the new governor of Buenos Aires, Juan Manuel de Rosas, convinced everyone to wait. After his two-year term, Ibarra had himself re-elected with full power and closed down the local legislature.
In 1834, a war broke out between Tucumán and Salta. Ibarra quietly supported this. Facundo Quiroga came to Santiago to mediate the conflict. Ibarra warned him not to return to Buenos Aires through Córdoba, as he had heard rumors of a possible attack. Ibarra even protected Quiroga with a large army up to the border with Córdoba. But Quiroga went to Córdoba and was killed. This event indirectly helped Rosas gain more power in Argentina. Ibarra then became a political ally of Rosas.
During a war against the Peruvian-Bolivian Confederation, Ibarra showed support for Rosas but didn't send troops. This was because the Argentine army leader in that war was Alejandro Heredia, a governor from Tucumán who was Ibarra's enemy. After the war, Ibarra supported a revolution against Heredia. A bigger war was avoided when Heredia was murdered in 1838.
Another Civil War
Peace didn't last long. After the Tucumán governor's death, there were several revolts against Rosas. One governor, Domingo Cullen, fled to Santiago and tried to form an alliance against Rosas. But Ibarra arrested Cullen and handed him over to Rosas, who had him executed.
In April 1840, several governors in the Northwest formed an alliance called the Northern Coalition to oppose Rosas. Ibarra was invited to join and even offered leadership. However, he stayed loyal to Rosas, mainly because he disliked the proud attitude of the group's leaders.
General Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid began operations against Santiago. Two columns of men from Catamarca and Salta tried to invade the province. Ibarra led 2,500 men to defend his land. In late October, his nephew, Manuel Ibarra, defeated one of the invading columns. The other column also suffered a similar fate. General Lamadrid's main force couldn't complete its mission because another division came to help Ibarra.
During this invasion, a revolt happened in the city, and Ibarra's brother, Francisco, was killed. The revolt failed, and Ibarra punished his opponents severely. He used a fort in the Chaco forest, called Bracho, as a prison camp. A famous local hero, Agustina Libarona, chose to stay with her husband in Bracho until he died.
Despite this, Unitarian forces attacked again. Colonel Mariano Acha occupied the capital, but Ibarra surrounded the city, forcing them to leave. Ibarra later helped the Federalist army win the Battle of Famaillá in 1841. This battle helped bring peace to the region for about ten years.
Later Years and Legacy
From the end of the war until Ibarra's death, Santiago del Estero was peaceful. There were no civil wars or major political changes. The economy grew slowly, and there wasn't much progress on the border with indigenous lands.
Ibarra suffered from gout, a painful joint condition, starting in 1849. When he knew he was dying, he wrote his will. In it, he not only named who would inherit his belongings but also who would govern his province. He placed the province under the protection of Rosas.
Juan Felipe Ibarra died in Santiago del Estero on July 17, 1851. After his death, a short civil war broke out among those who wanted to take his place. Eventually, Manuel Taboada took control of Santiago's politics for the next 24 years.
Ibarra had been married but sent his wife home. He did not remarry and had no official children. However, he had an illegitimate son, Absalón Ibarra. He also raised Leandro Taboada, who was the father of Antonino and Manuel Taboada. These three men would later become governors of Santiago del Estero.
Juan Felipe Ibarra was the first governor of Santiago del Estero. He was also the longest-serving Argentine governor, holding office for 31 years, with only a short break.
