Justo Abaunza y Muñoz de Avilés (1778 – 1872) was a

Costa Rican Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the n ...

-born

legitimist The Legitimists (french: Légitimistes) are royalists who adhere to the rights of dynastic succession to the French crown of the descendants of the eldest branch of the Bourbon dynasty, which was overthrown in the 1830 July Revolution. They ...

Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the countr ...

n lawyer and politician who served as acting Supreme Director of Nicaragua from 1 April to 5 May 1851, and as provisional Supreme Director appointed by José Trinidad Muñoz from 4 August to 2 November 1851.

Biography

Early career

In 1803, Marcelo de los Santos Porras, priest of the town of

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 ...

, stated that according to the baptismal books and the last census practiced in his parishioners, there were Spanish residents suitable for public service, all between ages 25 and 60, such as Lieutenant Abaunza, who was the sub-delegate of the Party of

Nicoya Nicoya is a Districts of Costa Rica, district and head city of the Nicoya (canton), Nicoya canton, in the Guanacaste Province, Guanacaste province of Costa Rica, located on the Nicoya Peninsula. It is one of the country's most important tourism, ...

. On 13 July 1804 he was appointed sub-delegate of the Party of Sutiaba against the opinion of the Governor of the Province. He was a Commissioner, alongside

Fulgencio Vega Fulgencio de la Vega y Santos (5 November 1805 – 1 August 1868) nicknamed ''"Tata Vega"'' was a Conservative Nicaraguan politician that is often credited with moving the Nicaraguan capital to Managua. He served as 9th Supreme Director from Nov ...

, of the Provisional Government of Silvestre Selva during Malespín's War, named after

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 ...

, who with the help of Granadan conservatives occupied and allowed the looting of the churches of León. He was accused of causing the death of 54 innocent civilians by

Bernabé Somoza Bernabé may refer to: People As a given name * Bernabé Ballester (born 1982), Spanish footballer * Bernabé Barragán (born 1993), Spanish footballer * Bernabé Cobo, (1582–1657), Spanish Jesuit missionary and writer * Bernabé Ferreyra (190 ...

moments before his execution.Justo Abaunza (1851). El senador director provisorio a sus compatriotas. Imprenta de la Libertad.

As Supreme Director

He was appointed acting Supreme Director on 1 April 1851 before his elected successor,

Laureano Pineda José Laureano Pineda Ugarte (4 July 1802 – 17 September 1853) was a Nicaraguan lawyer and politician who, as a Senator in the Legislative Assembly and member of the Democratic Party, was appointed to serve as 7th and later 8th Supreme Director ...

, took office on 5 May of the same year. On 4 August 1851 a coup led mainly by José Trinidad Muñoz, with support from other conservative leaders at the time, overthrew Pineda and forced him into exile in Honduras, where he declared himself Supreme Director in dissidence. Muñoz appointed senators Abaunza in León and

José Francisco del Montenegro José Francisco del Montenegro (1790 – 11 August 1851) was a Nicaraguan politician who served as Acting Supreme Director of Nicaragua from 5 to 11 August 1851, the same date he died. As a member of the Legitimist Party, in 1845, he became Minis ...

in Granada. Montenegro died suddenly only 6 days into his administration and was replaced by senator

José de Jesús Alfaro José de Jesús Alfaro was a legitmist Nicaraguan politician who served as provisional Supreme Director of Nicaragua in Granada after the sudden death of José Francisco del Montenegro from 11 August to 2 November 1851. On 5 August 1851, Jos� ...

. Abaunza and Alfaro would rule jointly under the supervision of Muñoz until 2 November 1851 when militia under Fruto Chamorro supported by the returning Pineda from Honduras with help from Juan Lindo began to siege León. Abaunza surrendered followed by Alfaro in Granada handing over power to

and Pineda.

Peace Negotiations

During the negotiations, it was achieved that Abaunza was included in the amnesty decree, but subject to what the Legislative Assembly decided, because he was a senator, and therefore enjoyed immunity.Justo Abaunza (1851). El senador director provisorio a sus compatriotas. Imprenta de la Libertad. It is not known what the opinion of the Assembly on Abaunza waws, but it is known that he moved to El Salvador, where he was appointed, along with

José María Silva Licenciado José María Silva (c. 1804, San Miguel, El Salvador – October 16, 1876, San Miguel) was a Liberal Salvadoran politician. He was twice briefly chief of state of the State of El Salvador, within the Federal Republic of Central Amer ...

, to draft the Civil Code and make Reforms to the Penal Code of El Salvador, according to It is stated in the Executive Agreement of 4 February 1858.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abaunza, Justo Presidents of Nicaragua 1778 births 1872 deaths