Manuel Barañao facts for kids

Eraldon Manuel Barañao (born August 5, 1791) was an important person during the Chilean War of Independence. He was born in Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1809, he traveled to Chile. There, he became a supporter of Juan Martínez de Rozas and started working in trade.

Role in Chile's Fight for Freedom

Barañao first supported the patriots at the start of the Chilean War of Independence. The patriots wanted Chile to be free from Spanish rule. However, after the royalists took over the city of Concepción, Chile, his ideas began to change. The royalists were loyal to the King of Spain.

Barañao then became a supporter of the royalists. Under the leader Mariano Osorio, he became a colonel. A colonel is a high-ranking officer in the army. He led a group of soldiers called hussars. Hussars were a type of cavalry soldier, known for their fancy uniforms and bravery. Barañao became a famous soldier and swordsman in the Spanish army.

His group of 150 hussars fought bravely at the Battle of Rancagua in 1814. The royalists won this battle. But after the royalists lost the Battle of Chacabuco, Barañao had to leave Chile. Like many other royalists, he moved to Peru.

His Family Life

In 1814, Barañao married Josefa Valenzuela Santibáñez. They had four children together: Joaquín, Aniceto, José Manuel, and Diego. Barañao later returned to Chile in the 1830s. This was after the government in Chile had changed.

See also

In Spanish: Manuel Barañao para niños