Miguel Iglesias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miguel Iglesias
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| 26th President of Peru (Regenerator Government) |
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| In office January 1, 1883 – December 3, 1885 |
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| Preceded by | Andrés Avelino Cáceres Lizardo Montero (La Magdalena Government) |
| Succeeded by | Antonio Arenas |
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| Born | June 11, 1830 Celendín |
| Died | November 7, 1909 (aged 72) Lima |
| Nationality | Peruvian |
Miguel Iglesias Pino de Arce was born on June 11, 1830, in Cajamarca, Peru. He passed away on November 7, 1909, in Lima, Peru. He was a Peruvian soldier, general, and politician. He served as the 26th President of Peru from 1882 to 1885.
Contents
Miguel Iglesias: A Peruvian Leader
Early Life and Military Career
Miguel Iglesias's family came from Catalonia, Spain. His father moved to Peru in the early 1800s. He joined his uncles who had started a silver mine near Cajamarca. Miguel's father, Lorenzo Iglesias, became a local leader. He was also a friend of Simón Bolívar, a famous South American liberator. Miguel was born in 1830.
Miguel Iglesias inherited a large estate and silver mines. This gave him a lot of power in Cajamarca. He used his own money to create a private army. He had been doing this since the 1866 war with Spain. He was a senior army officer in the "Dos de mayo" battle. After this victory, he became a Colonel. He was also named the Prefect of Cajamarca.
In 1874, Iglesias started a rebellion. It was against President Manuel Pardo. Iglesias declared himself the military chief of the North. His rebellion failed, but he was not punished. No one in Lima dared to challenge his power in Cajamarca. This helped him become even stronger in northern Peru.
Role in the War of the Pacific
In 1879, a war began between Peru (allied with Bolivia) and Chile. This war is known as the War of the Pacific. Miguel Iglesias started raising a new private army.
The war quickly went badly for Peru. In late 1879, the Peruvian Navy lost its main warships. The iron-clad Independencia sank. The Huascar was captured. Chile's ships, Cochrane and Blanco Encalada, were very strong. Peru also lost the southern region of Tarapacá. The professional Peruvian army was defeated.
Iglesias's friend, Nicolás de Piérola, then took power. He became the Supreme Commander in Chief. This happened on December 23, 1879. He replaced President Prado, who was seen as mismanaging the war. Iglesias's "Vencedores de Cajamarca" battalion supported Piérola. Piérola then made Iglesias his Secretary of War.
Defending Lima
In January 1881, Iglesias personally led the defense of Lima. He organized the city's defenses against the Chilean army. His main defense lines were at Morro Solar, a hill south of Lima. He commanded 5,000 men, mostly from Cajamarca.
The battle for Lima focused on Morro Solar. The first Chilean attack was stopped. But then, more Chilean troops and artillery arrived. Iglesias and his men were surrounded. They were outnumbered by 9,000 Chilean soldiers. They faced heavy attacks. The Peruvian army had lost much of its modern equipment. So, Iglesias's men had only basic rifles. These were not as good as the Chilean Krupp guns. Only 280 of the men defending Morro Solar were taken prisoner. Among those killed was Iglesias's 22-year-old son, Alejandro.
Continuing the Fight and Peace Treaty
After escaping back to Cajamarca, Iglesias continued fighting Chile. This was in northern Peru. Meanwhile, General Andrés Avelino Cáceres fought the Chileans in the Andes mountains. Iglesias won a battle against the Chileans at San Pablo, Cajamarca, on July 13, 1882. However, a Chilean force soon returned. They reoccupied the area and carried out harsh actions.
On October 23, 1883, Iglesias signed the Treaty of Ancón. He signed it on behalf of Peru. This treaty officially ended the war. Peru gave up the Tarapacá region to Chile. This was to pay for war damages. The southern regions of Arica and Tacna would decide their future later. They would vote in a referendum after ten years. They would choose to join Chile or stay with Peru.
Presidency and Conflict
General Cáceres and his forces did not agree with the Treaty of Ancón. They started a guerrilla campaign against Iglesias.
After signing the treaty, Iglesias called a meeting. He wanted to be declared president. But Cáceres's forces did not recognize him. Cáceres then declared himself President on July 16, 1884. He argued that the government was not following the rules.
On August 27, 1884, Cáceres's fighters attacked Lima. They almost reached the presidential palace. But they were pushed back. However, a year later, they succeeded. They forced Iglesias to resign from the presidency in December 1885. He found safety on an Italian ship. He eventually returned to his estate in Cajamarca.
Antonio Arenas, who was the head of the Council of Ministers, became President. This led to a peaceful change in government. Iglesias went to live in Spain for a time.
In 1888, the ban against Iglesias was lifted. He and his wife were able to return to Peru. President Cáceres made Iglesias a General again. He also gave him full pay.
A few years later, in 1895, the people of Cajamarca voted for Iglesias. He became their Senator in an election where no one ran against him.
Miguel Iglesias and his wife had eleven children. In 1895, his youngest daughter, Gaudencia, married Edgar Fraser Luckie. He was a Scot who had earned a lot of money from gold mining.
See also
In Spanish: Miguel Iglesias para niños
