Lucio Victorio Mansilla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lucio Victorio Mansilla
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Mansilla around 1855.
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| Governor of Gran Chaco | |
| In office October 28, 1878 – May 15, 1879 |
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| Preceded by | Pantaleón Gómez |
| Succeeded by | Luis Jorge Fontana |
| President of the Honorable Chamber of Deputies of the Argentine Nation | |
| In office June 18, 1890 – December 15, 1890 |
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| Preceded by | Benjamín Zorrilla |
| Succeeded by | Benjamín Zorrilla |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 23, 1831 Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Died | October 8, 1913 Paris, France |
| Nationality | Argentinian |
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Lucio Victorio Mansilla (born December 23, 1831 – died October 8, 1913) was an important Argentine figure. He was a general, a writer, a politician, and a diplomat. He even served as the governor of the Gran Chaco region for a short time. Mansilla is most famous for his book, An Excursion to the Ranqueles Indians. This book came from a real trip he took in 1870 to visit different groups of native people.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Lucio Mansilla was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 23, 1831. His family was very well-known. His father, Lucio Norberto Mansilla, was a brave colonel and a hero of the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado. His mother, Agustina Ortiz de Rozas, was the younger sister of Juan Manuel de Rosas, a powerful leader in Argentina. Lucio also had a sister, Eduarda Mansilla, who became a famous writer and journalist.
After finishing school, Lucio worked in a local business. He helped keep the accounting books. During this time, he fell in love with his cousin, Catalina, whom he later married.
Mansilla's Adventures and Early Career
Lucio was sent to work at his family's meat-salting plant near San Nicolás. He lived at his father's house there. In his free time, he loved to read books from his father's library. One day, his father found him reading a book called The Social Contract by Rousseau. His father worried that his uncle, Juan Manuel de Rosas, would not like these modern ideas.
So, his father decided to send Lucio on a long trip. Lucio traveled to far-off places like India, Egypt, London, and Paris. He saw many exotic lands during his three years away.
When he heard that Urquiza was rising against his uncle Rosas, Lucio quickly returned home in 1852. He joined the army and supported the Confederation. After Rosas was overthrown, Lucio traveled to Europe again with his father. He even shared part of his journey with Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, who would later become president.
Back in Argentina in August 1852, his romance with Catalina began again. Their first son, Andrés Pío, was born a year later. Around 1856, Lucio became interested in journalism. However, an argument at a theater led to him being jailed and then exiled from Buenos Aires. He moved to Paraná, which was the capital of Argentina at the time. There, he continued writing for newspapers and became a secretary to Salvador María del Carril.
Military and Political Contributions
Lucio Mansilla played a role in the Paraguayan War. He fought in several important battles, including Humaitá and Tuyutí. He was injured during the battle of Curupaytí. By 1868, he had become a major and then a lieutenant colonel. He also served as a military secretary.
Later, he was promoted to colonel. This was partly because he supported Domingo Faustino Sarmiento's campaign for president. Mansilla hoped Sarmiento would make him Minister of War. However, Sarmiento instead assigned him to protect the southern border of Córdoba.
As commander of the Córdoba borders, Mansilla carefully explored the area. He even drew a detailed map. Then, he bravely went into the pampas with two friars and a small group of guards. His goal was to talk peacefully with the native people. He visited chiefs like Ramón Cabral and Baigorrita. This amazing journey inspired his most famous book, An Excursion to the Ranqueles Indians. He first published this as letters in a newspaper, and then as a book.
After his twenty-day expedition, Mansilla returned to Villa Mercedes. He found out he was suspended from his job. He had ordered the execution of a deserter without asking his boss first. President Sarmiento closed the case but put a warning on Mansilla's record.
Mansilla then focused on journalism, writing many articles. Two years later, his friend, President Nicolás Avellaneda, brought him back to the army. He became chief of staff in Córdoba and later chief of borders.
From 1882, Mansilla served as a deputy during the government of Julio Argentino Roca. He also went on diplomatic missions to other countries. In 1895, his wife, Catalina, passed away while he was on a mission in Nice.
In 1896, he moved to Paris, France. He left the army and continued to write. He published a biography of his uncle, Juan Manuel de Rosas. He also wrote political essays and sent articles to newspapers in Buenos Aires.
In his later years, Mansilla began writing his "Memories," sharing stories from his childhood. In 1898, he briefly visited Argentina and met Mónica Torromé. They married the next year and settled in Paris in 1902. He continued diplomatic work for a few more years. Towards the end of his life, he began to lose his eyesight. Lucio Victorio Mansilla passed away in Paris on October 8, 1913.
Mansilla's Published Works
Lucio Mansilla was a very productive writer. Here are some of his notable works:
- From Aden to Suez (1855)
- An African Revenge (1864)
- An excursion to the ranqueles indians (1870) - His most famous book.
- Between us: Thursday Causeries (1889/90, 5 volumes)
- Portraits and memories (1894)
- Moral studies, that is, the diary of my life (1896)
- Rosas, historical-psychological essay (1898)
- Maxims and Thoughts (1904)
- My Memories (1904)
- The hiker on the planet . Travel briefs. Selection of Sandra Contreras (2012)
See also
In Spanish: Lucio V. Mansilla para niños
