Mariano Melgar
Encyclopedia
Mariano Melgar was a Peru
vian patriot
, poet, artist, and warrior for the cause of independence from Spain
. As a poet, Melgar became one of the most prominent romantic poets of Peru in the 19th century history, best known for his famous poetic love songs known as yaravíes. He is often considered like the Ecuadorian José Joaquín Olmedo and the Cuban José Martí
, patriots of their respective countries.
on August 10, 1790, to Don Juan de Dios Melgar and Doña Andrea de Valdivieso, members of distinguished families of the time. He was baptized two days after birth at Arequipa's San Francisco cathedral. Growing up in Arequipa, he received his early education at the San Francisco convent and the Seminario de San Jerónimo. At a young age he demonstrated a gift for writing poetry and in his later years he was said to have fallen in love with María Santos Corrales
, whom he romantically mentioned as Silvia in his poetry writings. The girl was said to be nine years his junior and her parents opposed their relationship.
At the age of twenty his parents sent him to Lima
to study law. The desire for independence in Lima was very strong and the country had promulgated a liberal constitution in 1812. Melgar became very well educated in the fields of history, geography, philosophy and mathematics. After briefly teaching what he had learned in Lima, he decided to return to Arequipa, only to find out that Silvia had been persuaded by her parents to be against a relationship with him. Melgar, in desperate sadness, left for Majes (west of Arequipa). Eventually, he established contacts with other independence revolutionaries of the time. In 1814, the revolution of Mateo Pumacahua
took place in Cusco
, which upset the apparent tranquillity of the Spanish viceroyalty of Peru
and prompted Melgar to join the independence cause and march to combat. After winning the combat of Apacheta in Arequipa, the army marched towards Puno
and fought the Battle of Umachiri, in which Melgar fought bravely directing the revolutionary army's artillery. The patriots were defeated and made prisoners, including the young Melgar. The Spanish General Ramirez, after holding Melgar captive for some time, ordered his officers to place him before a firing squad. Melgar died in the morning of March 12, 1815, just before turning 25.
In a brief letter before his death, Melgar famously wrote to Spanish officials: "Cover your eyes, since you're the ones who must be disabused because America will be free in less than ten years!" Nine years later, on December 9, 1824, the Battle of Ayacucho, or "La Quinua
", took place at Pampa de La Quinua, a few miles away from Ayacucho
, near the town of Quinua. This battle – between the royalist (Spanish) and nationalist (republican) troops – sealed the independence of Peru and South America from Spain. On July 2, 1964, in recognition of his bravery in the first battles before independence, Peru officially recognized Mariano Melgar as one of the country's first patriots and soldiers for the revolution for independence.
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian patriot
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
, poet, artist, and warrior for the cause of independence from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. As a poet, Melgar became one of the most prominent romantic poets of Peru in the 19th century history, best known for his famous poetic love songs known as yaravíes. He is often considered like the Ecuadorian José Joaquín Olmedo and the Cuban José Martí
José Martí
José Julián Martí Pérez was a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. He was also a part of the Cuban...
, patriots of their respective countries.
Biography
Mariano Melgar was born in ArequipaArequipa
Arequipa is the capital city of the Arequipa Region in southern Peru. With a population of 836,859 it is the second most populous city of the country...
on August 10, 1790, to Don Juan de Dios Melgar and Doña Andrea de Valdivieso, members of distinguished families of the time. He was baptized two days after birth at Arequipa's San Francisco cathedral. Growing up in Arequipa, he received his early education at the San Francisco convent and the Seminario de San Jerónimo. At a young age he demonstrated a gift for writing poetry and in his later years he was said to have fallen in love with María Santos Corrales
Maria Santos Corrales
María Santos Corrales . As the inspiration of Peru's famous poet and patriot soldier, Mariano Melgar, she is forever immortalized as "Silvia" in his poetry.-Biography:...
, whom he romantically mentioned as Silvia in his poetry writings. The girl was said to be nine years his junior and her parents opposed their relationship.
At the age of twenty his parents sent him to Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
to study law. The desire for independence in Lima was very strong and the country had promulgated a liberal constitution in 1812. Melgar became very well educated in the fields of history, geography, philosophy and mathematics. After briefly teaching what he had learned in Lima, he decided to return to Arequipa, only to find out that Silvia had been persuaded by her parents to be against a relationship with him. Melgar, in desperate sadness, left for Majes (west of Arequipa). Eventually, he established contacts with other independence revolutionaries of the time. In 1814, the revolution of Mateo Pumacahua
Mateo Pumacahua
Mateo García Pumacahua was a Peruvian revolutionary in the War of Independence.-Biography:Pumacahua was the cacique of Chinchero, brigadier of the militia of the Viceroyalty of Peru, and interim president of the Audiencia of Cuzco...
took place in Cusco
Cusco
Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
, which upset the apparent tranquillity of the Spanish viceroyalty of Peru
Viceroyalty of Peru
Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru was a Spanish colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima...
and prompted Melgar to join the independence cause and march to combat. After winning the combat of Apacheta in Arequipa, the army marched towards Puno
Puno
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 100,000. The city was established in 1668 by viceroy Pedro Antonio Fernández de Castro as capital of the province of...
and fought the Battle of Umachiri, in which Melgar fought bravely directing the revolutionary army's artillery. The patriots were defeated and made prisoners, including the young Melgar. The Spanish General Ramirez, after holding Melgar captive for some time, ordered his officers to place him before a firing squad. Melgar died in the morning of March 12, 1815, just before turning 25.
In a brief letter before his death, Melgar famously wrote to Spanish officials: "Cover your eyes, since you're the ones who must be disabused because America will be free in less than ten years!" Nine years later, on December 9, 1824, the Battle of Ayacucho, or "La Quinua
Quinua
Quinua can refer to* Quinoa , a species of goosefoot grown as an edible crop* Quinua, Peru, a small town in Huamanga Province...
", took place at Pampa de La Quinua, a few miles away from Ayacucho
Ayacucho
Ayacucho is the capital city of Huamanga Province, Ayacucho Region, Peru.Ayacucho is famous for its 33 churches, which represent one for each year of Jesus's life. Ayacucho has large religious celebrations, especially during the Holy Week of Easter...
, near the town of Quinua. This battle – between the royalist (Spanish) and nationalist (republican) troops – sealed the independence of Peru and South America from Spain. On July 2, 1964, in recognition of his bravery in the first battles before independence, Peru officially recognized Mariano Melgar as one of the country's first patriots and soldiers for the revolution for independence.
External links
- Poetry and letters by Melgar, poesia-castellana.com
- Mariano Melgar's biography, adonde.com