Martín Miguel de Güemes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martín Miguel de Güemes
|
|
|---|---|
Posthumous portrait by Eduardo Schiaffino.
|
|
| Governor of Salta province | |
| In office 1815–1821 |
|
| Preceded by | Miguel Aráoz |
| Succeeded by | José Antonio Fernández Cornejo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 February 1785 Salta, Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata (Now Argentina) |
| Died | 17 June 1821 (aged 36) Chamical, Province of Salta, United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata |
| Resting place | Panteón de las Glorias del Norte, Salta |
| Political party | Patriot |
| Relations | Macacha Güemes, Francisca Güemes |
| Profession | Officer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Provinces of South America |
| Years of service | 1799-1821 |
| Rank | General |
Martín Miguel de Güemes (born February 8, 1785 – died June 17, 1821) was an important military leader in Argentina. He was known as a popular caudillo, which means a strong leader, especially in a military sense. He bravely defended the northwestern part of Argentina against the Spanish army during the Argentine War of Independence. This war was fought to make Argentina free from Spain.
Contents
Martín Miguel de Güemes: A Hero of Independence
Early Life and Education
Martín Miguel de Güemes was born in Salta, a city in what is now Argentina, into a rich family. His father, Gabriel de Güemes Montero, was from Santander, Spain. He was a smart man and worked as a royal treasurer for the Spanish crown. He made sure Martín had a good education with private teachers. They taught him about philosophy and science, which were important subjects at the time. Martín's mother, María Magdalena de Goyechea y la Corte, was a criolla, meaning she was born in Salta but of Spanish descent.
Military Career Begins
When he was 23, Güemes started his military career. He helped defend Buenos Aires when the British tried to invade the Río de la Plata area. During these attacks, Güemes became famous. He and his cavalry (soldiers on horseback) bravely charged and captured a British merchant ship called the Justine. This ship was stuck in shallow water.
After the May Revolution in 1810, a new local government was formed. Güemes joined the army that was sent to fight Spanish troops in Upper Peru (which is now Bolivia). His army won an important battle called the Battle of Suipacha. After this victory, he went back to Buenos Aires and helped in the siege of Montevideo, a city that was controlled by the Spanish.
Defending Salta with Gauchos
In 1815, Güemes returned to Salta. He started to organize a strong resistance against the royalists, who were people loyal to Spain. He trained local gauchos (skilled horsemen from the plains) in guerrilla tactics. This meant they used surprise attacks and small, quick fights instead of large, open battles.
Güemes was then chosen to be the Governor of Salta Province. Later that year, General José Rondeau, who was leading the fight in Peru, suffered a defeat. He tried to take weapons from Salta's gauchos. Güemes refused to give them up. Because of this, the leader of the provinces, Ignacio Álvarez Thomas, sent troops to help Rondeau. Eventually, they reached an agreement. Güemes would continue to lead his forces and help the armies sent from Buenos Aires.
Support from Key Leaders
A few days later, the new Supreme Director, Juan Martín de Pueyrredón, visited Salta. He wanted to see if Güemes was truly capable. Pueyrredón was very impressed with what he saw and promoted Güemes to colonel major. Important generals like José de San Martín and Manuel Belgrano also supported Güemes.
A letter from a Spanish general named Joaquín de la Pezuela to the Viceroy of Peru showed how effective Güemes's army was. He wrote that Güemes's army was fighting "almost without punishment, a slow but tiring and harmful war." This meant Güemes's small, quick attacks were causing big problems for the Spanish.
Fighting Off Spanish Invasions
In early 1817, the Spanish Marshal José de la Serna marched into Salta Province with a large army of experienced soldiers. Güemes quickly organized a popular army. On March 1, his forces recaptured Humahuaca. The Spanish army, with 5,400 men, faced a strategy called "scorched earth." This meant Güemes's forces would retreat, destroying anything useful to the enemy, while also launching constant guerrilla attacks.
De la Serna reached Salta City on April 16, but the people of Salta fought back. The Spanish troops faced constant small attacks, their morale dropped, and they heard about San Martín's victory in the Battle of Chacabuco. Because of all this, the royalist troops had to retreat back to the north.
Challenges and Final Days
After these victories, Güemes was left to manage on his own. San Martín had to stay in Chile for three years. Belgrano was called back to Santa Fe Province to fight against supporters of José Gervasio Artigas. These were difficult times, with different groups fighting each other within Argentina.
In March 1819, a new Spanish army invaded northwestern Argentina. Güemes did not get any reinforcements. He had to ask wealthy landowners in Salta for money to support his army. In February 1820, another wave of Spanish troops invaded San Salvador de Jujuy and Salta, but Güemes's forces pushed them back.
The year 1820 was a turning point in Argentina's long civil war. Provinces were fighting among themselves and with Buenos Aires. Güemes found himself with enemies on two sides: the Spanish troops in the north and Bernabé Aráoz, the governor of Tucumán, in the south. Aráoz teamed up with some rich landowners in Salta who did not like Güemes. They defeated Güemes on April 3, 1821.
The Cabildo of Salta, which was a local council controlled by conservative landowners, removed Güemes from his position as governor. However, his gauchos quickly took back power in May. Soon after, a Spanish colonel named José María Valdés, who knew the area well, promised the landowners he would protect their properties. With their help, he occupied Salta again on June 7.
Güemes had to flee the city, but he was shot in the back. He managed to reach his camp at Chamical. There, he gave his last orders to his army and sadly died from his wounds on June 17. His brave men then retook Salta from the royalists, this time for good, on July 22.
Images for kids
-
Posthumous portrait by Eduardo Schiaffino.
See also
In Spanish: Martín Miguel de Güemes para niños
