Lavalle Juan [1890s-1940s]

Description: Lavalle was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a military man that fought in the Wars of Independence under the order of General José de San Martín in the Army of the Andes. He became known as the Hero of the battle of Riobamba. He disagreed with Simón Bolívar when San Martín handed to Bolívar the last part of the liberation of South America from Spain. Then, back in Buenos Aires, he led a military coup and unfairly executed the federalist leader Manuel Dorrego because there was no trial. From then on he established a reign of terror both in the city of Buenos Aires and in the rural interior of Buenos Aires. The resistance was led by Juan Manuel de Rosas and the other provinces of Argentina did not accept his authority. He escaped to Uruguay. When the French government decided to blockadre the River Plate, he invaded Argentina but found severe opposition when the French decided to negotiate with Rosas and cut their financial support to Lavalle. Persecuted, his troops suffered constant attacks and Lavalle was killed in the northern province of Jujuy. In Bolivia, his followers buried his flesh and returned with his bones to Buenos Aires. Extent and format of original material: This envelope contains ewsapapers' and magazines' clippings, engravings, a small book on the Patriotic League or Liga Patriótica titled La Leyenda de Juan Lavalle (The Legend of Juan Lavalle) by Dr. Manuel Carlés, two archival bibliographic cards with a photo and data on Juan Lavalle.