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 Conscription, conscripted or volunteer Enlisted rank, enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, or an Officer (armed forces), officer.
Etymology
The word ''soldier'' deri ...
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 with ...
, 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. 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 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 ''
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 " ...
'' 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