Emiliano Madriz (c. 1800 – 24 January 1845) was a liberal Nicaraguan lawyer and politician who served as acting
Supreme Director of Nicaragua from 26 September to 26 December 1844, and as the interim Supreme Director in
León until 24 January 1845.
Malespín's War
On 25 October 1844, Salvadoran President
Francisco Malespín
Francisco Malespín Herrera (1806 – 25 November 1846) was a Salvadoran military officer and politician, elected as the president of El Salvador in 1844. He served from 7 February 1844 to 15 February 1845, when he was deposed by his vice pres ...
, handed over the presidency to his Vice President,
Joaquín Eufrasio Guzmán, and began leading his troops towards Nicaragua, with support from the Honduras.
The then Supreme Director,
Manuel Pérez, avoided military action, and this support given to Malespín provoked parliamentary opposition, so he was removed from office on September 26, and his duties were replaced by Madriz, a member of the Legislative Assembly based in
León.
Selva's Government in Masaya
The differences between the Nicaraguans surfaced and the conservatives from Granada abandoned the liberals in León and on 8 December they sought support from the invading leader. Thus, Granada sided with Malespin, followed by Rivas.
The Granadans moved the Legislative Assembly to
Masaya
Masaya () is the capital city of Masaya Department in Nicaragua. It is situated approximately 14 km west of Granada and 31 km southeast of Managua. It is located just east of the Masaya Volcano, an active volcano from which the ...
, where on December 16, 1844,
Silvestre Selva, a senator of the Legislative Assembly, was appointed Supreme Director, without the consent of León under siege.
Death
Some officers believed that
Casto Fonseca, the commander of the defenses, though brave, was not competent enough to make a proper defense.
José María Valle, ''"El Chelon"'', suggested that Fonseca hand over command to
José Trinidad Cabañas, but Fonseca considered the suggestion an insult, and consequently Valle withdrew. Faced with Fonseca's ineptitude and intransigence, Madriz commanded the defenses of
León, which had to withstand 89 days of siege. The defense of Sutiava was entrusted to
Gerardo Barrios
José Gerardo Barrios Espinoza (24 September 1813 – 29 August 1865) was a liberal Salvadoran military general and politician who served as President of El Salvador
The president of El Salvador ( es, Presidente de El Salvador), officially ...
, who organized it for the resistance against the siege led by Malespín.
However, a shipment of weapons was siezed allowing the advance through Sutiava towards
León, and on 24 January 1845 they entered the city, massacring and looting it. And on the same date, Madriz was executed by firing squad under the direct order of Malespín.
[Esgueva Gómez, Antonio. Nicaragua en los documentos Tomo I 1523-1857, Número 10 de Talleres de historia. Instituto de Historia de Nicaragua y Centroamérica, Universidad Centroamericana, 2006. Capítulo 6 Del militarismo a la Guerra Vivil de 1854, pág. 103]
References
Madriz, Emiliano
Madriz, Emiliano
Madriz, Emiliano
1845 murders in Central America
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