Desiderio Arias Álvarez (1872–1931) was a notable Dominican

soldier A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a conscripted or volunteer enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, or an officer. Etymology The word ''soldier'' derives from the Middle English word , from Old French ...

and ''

caudillo A ''caudillo'' ( , ; osp, cabdillo, from Latin , diminutive of ''caput'' "head") is a type of personalist leader wielding military and political power. There is no precise definition of ''caudillo'', which is often used interchangeably with " ...

'' who gained a significant following throughout the northern band of the

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...

, especially in the Montecristi region. He was killed by

Rafael Trujillo Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina ( , ; 24 October 189130 May 1961), nicknamed ''El Jefe'' (, "The Chief" or "The Boss"), was a Dominican dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic from February 1930 until his assassination in May 1961. He ser ...

's forces.

First years

He was born in 1872, near to Monte Cristi. His parents were Tomas Arias and María Eugenia Álvarez, and his brothers, Evangelista and Francisco. Arias was born during the fourth government of

Buenaventura Báez Ramón Buenaventura Báez Méndez (July 14, 1812March 14, 1884), was a Dominican politician and military figure. He was president of the Dominican Republic for five nonconsecutive terms. His rule was characterized by being very corrupt and govern ...

. While still young, he moved to Montecristi, where he soon began working with his relative Juan Isidro Jiménes in the commercial house of J.I. Jiménez & CIA.

Introduction to the militia

Arias began his first military career with

Horacio Vásquez Felipe Horacio Vásquez Lajara (October 22, 1860 – March 25, 1936) was a Dominican general and political figure. He served as the president of the Provisional Government Junta of the Dominican Republic in 1899, and again between 1902 and 1903. ...

and

Ramón Cáceres Ramón Arturo Cáceres Vasquez (15 December 1866, Moca, Dominican Republic – 19 November 1911, Santo Domingo), nicknamed Mon Cáceres, was a Dominican politician and minister of the Armed Forces. He was the 31st president of the Dominican Repu ...

. Because of his performance and connections, President

Juan Isidro Jimenes Pereyra Juan Isidro Jimenes Pereyra (November 15, 1846 – May 9, 1919) was a Dominican political figure. He served as the president of the Dominican Republic between 15 November 1899 and 2 May 1902, and again between 5 December 1914 and 7 May 1916. Ji ...

appointed him to the position of regional assistant.

Starts in the politics

On 1 January 1902, Arias married Simeona Castro, better known as Pomona, sister of the general Andrés Navarro, a known politician and military ''

'' of the northwestern band, and one of the key supporters of President Jimenes. {{DEFAULTSORT:Arias, Desiderio 1872 births 1931 deaths People from Monte Cristi Province Dominican Republic people of Spanish descent Dominican Republic politicians Dominican Republic activists Dominican Republic military personnel Assassinated activists People murdered in the Dominican Republic Assassinated military personnel Assassinated Dominican Republic politicians