 | This article contains too many or overly lengthy quotations. (March 2024) |
Carlos de Villegas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of War | |
| In office 28 October 1876 – 7 May 1878 | |
| President | Hilarión Daza |
| Preceded by | Agustín Aspiazu |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Lens |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 1, 1824 San Antonio de Morayo, Bolivia |
| Died | January 7, 1897 (aged 72) La Paz, Bolivia |
| Resting place | General Cemetery of La Paz |
| Spouse | Belizenda Constanza Ribera |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent(s) | José Fausto de Villegas Agustina Aramayo |
| Occupation | Military officer |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Bolivian Army |
| Rank | Division general |
| Battles/wars | |
Carlos de Villegas (1 March 1824 – 7 January 1897)[1] was a Bolivian military officer, statesman, and politician who served during the War of the Confederation, the Peruvian–Bolivian War of 1841–42, and the War of the Pacific. He was a noted war hero in Bolivia, serving in several posts throughout his lifetime, including as Minister of War. He was the father of Bolivian General Carlos Manuel de Villegas.
Starting his military career at a young age, Villegas spent a large part of his youth either fighting in international wars or in civil wars. He lived through the presidencies of Manuel Isidoro Belzu and José María Linares, times in which he took arms in favor of the current government in opposition to insurrections. However, he did favor the government of Linares, whom he supported and helped take power in 1857. Remaining loyal to Linares for most of his administration, once the dictator had lost most support and was betrayed by his Minister of War, José María de Achá, Villegas turned on his former benefactor.
Under Achá, Villegas flourished and ascended to the rank of general, occupying high positions in the military and government. However, he was exiled from Bolivia when Mariano Melgarejo took power in 1864. Joining the revolution against the aforementioned caudillo, Villegas joined the ranks of Agustín Morales and Tomás Frías in what seemed a sacrosanct cause to oust an unpopular tyrant. Despite his inclination to support Frías, he was unable to support the President when he was surrounded at the Palacio Quemado and forced to resign in 1876. Hilarión Daza, now President, appointed Villegas as Minister of War. During his tenure, he put down the violent uprising led by Andrés Ibañez, whom he knew personally.
Later, he had a significant role during the War of the Pacific, in which he was given command of a division. Seeing action against the Chileans at the Battle of San Francisco, he was wounded and captured. After the end of the war, he continued his political and military career, occupying several high posts in the last years of his life until his retirement in the early 1890s. His long career, both political and military, shed light onto a turbulent period of Bolivian history.
- ^ Quesada, Juan Isidro (2006). Paseo genealógico por la Argentina y Bolivia (in Spanish). Centro de Genealogía de Entre Ríos. ISBN 978-987-21302-1-3.