Matías Ramón Mella

Matías Ramón Mella Castillo (25 February 1816 – 4 June 1864), commonly known as Ramón Mella, was a Dominican revolutionary, politician, and military general.
He was a central figure in proclaiming the First Dominican Republic and advancing the cause of Dominican independence. Recognized as one of the three Founding Fathers of the Dominican Republic, he is commemorated in the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez, and Mella, which includes his name.

Mella joined the independence movement and collaborated closely with Juan Pablo Duarte and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez to promote a vision of a sovereign Dominican Republic.

Mella contributed significantly to the establishment of the Dominican Republic, initiating the Dominican War of Independence. However, internal political disputes soon arose among former allies. Facing health issues and financial difficulties, Mella observed as many of his comrades faced consequences for their pro-independence efforts. In 1861, the country came under Spanish rule again. Supporting the pro-independence rebels, Mella developed a guerrilla warfare manual that played a key role in the Dominican Restoration War.

He remained active in the revolutionary cause until his death in 1864. In 1865, the revolutionaries secured victory against Spain, restoring Dominican independence.

Early life

Background and early activities

Mella was born on February 25, 1816, in Santo Domingo to Antonio Mella Álvarez (1794–1837) and Francisca Javier Castillo Álvarez (1790–1864) during the España Boba period. His parents were of Spanish descent, and his paternal grandmother, Juana Álvarez Pereyra, a native of San Carlos, had origins in the Canary Islands. His father worked as a merchant. Baptized on March 6, 1816, at 11 days old in the Cathedral Church by Fr. Augustin Tavarez, Mella had two siblings: Ildefonso (1818–1910) and Manuela Mella Castillo (1827– 1894). Ildefonso joined him in the Trinitarios’ activities and was among the first to protest the annexation to Spain. In Puerto Plata, Ildefonso rode through the city waving a flag and shouting, “Long live the Dominican flag, regardless of who it may be,” before being exiled to Cuba as a prisoner.
Mella’s early years unfolded during a time of economic and political decline in Santo Domingo, with a population of approximately 65,000. The colony had experienced a demographic collapse due to significant emigration to Venezuela, Cuba, and Puerto Rico following the cession of Santo Domingo to France under the Treaty of Basel in 1795.

In 1809, Juan Sánchez Ramírez, supported by Spanish and British forces, defeated the French in the War of Reconquista, restoring Spanish administration. However, the economy stagnated, cultural activities dwindled, and access to education, including at the university, remained limited to a small elite.

As a child, Mella witnessed José Núñez de Cáceres, an enlightened revolutionary, lead a successful revolt against Spanish rule, declaring independence on December 1, 1821, and naming the new nation the Republic of Spanish Haiti. Plans to join Gran Colombia garnered little support, and Simón Bolívar showed minimal interest. In February 1822, Jean-Pierre Boyer, president of Haiti, annexed the fledgling nation with a large army, initiating the Haitian occupation of Santo Domingo.

Little is documented about Mella’s education, but due to the scarcity of public schools during his childhood, it is likely his parents enrolled him in private institutions operating discreetly. There, he received instruction from respected Dominican educators. From a young age, Mella displayed skill with a sword and sabre, earning a reputation for bravery. He engaged in military service, gaining recognition for his discipline, responsibility, and courage. Known for his adeptness with weapons, he reportedly intervened to disperse groups of armed Haitians disrupting local gatherings, earning admiration among peers.

Balancing family responsibilities, Mella pursued productive work from his youth, blending patriotic activities with a strong work ethic. In urban areas, many engaged in cutting precious woods like mahogany, an occupation often tied to official roles due to its authoritative nature. At age 19, in 1835, Mella began this trade in San Cristóbal, continuing for several years.

His work in woodcutting and commerce exposed him to diverse social groups, offering insights into societal structures. This labor supported a modest lifestyle. Some historians note that Mella joined Freemasonry, becoming a member of a Masonic lodge at age 21.

Marriage and family

In August 1836, a 20-year-old Mella married Josefa Brea, the daughter of hero José Gertrudis Brea and Josefa Hernández, born on February 14, 1814. (Brea was also the first cousin of Doña Concepción Bona y Hernández de Gómez), who was responsible for making the first Dominican flag raised at the Puerta del Conde in February 1844. (She died in Puerto Plata on January 2, 1899). A will revealed that the marriage lacked contributions from both sides of the union. It is alleged that some of the assets that Mella acquired during the marriage may have been due to the inheritance he received after the passing of his father. It is also revealed that Mella was a devout Roman Catholic, as he declared with the following text from the same will:

Together, they produced 4 children: Ramón María, Dominga América María, Antonio Nicanor, and Ildefonso. Many of their descendants live in the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the United States.

* Ramón María, the eldest, witnessed his father's blunderbuss shot in 1844. He studied in Paris, worked as a painter, and became an active official in the Dominican Restoration War. He later served as deputy for Santiago in 1866. He even fought in the Six Years' War against the government of Buenaventura Baez, until his death on March 21, 1868.
*Dominga Amèrica María, Mella's only daughter, was not active in politics.
*Ildefonso, who had also studied in Paris, worked as a lawyer, painter, and judge of First Instance in Puerto Plata. He even served as governor of the province.
*Antonio Nicanor, Mella's youngest son, also avoided taking part in politics, instead taking a job as a tailor in Havana, Cuba. He was known as a tailor for high Cuban society at the time. He specialized in men's clothing "in the French style." He would go on to father Julio Antonio Mella, a Cuban activist who was later assassinated on the orders of dictator Gerardo Machado in Mexico City, Mexico. (He was also one of the founders of the Popular Socialist Party, the original Cuban communist party, founded in 1925).

Among the witnesses of Mella's wedding was Juan Isidro Pérez, who befriended Mella. Perez, (who was later referred to as "The Illustrious Fool"), was a young activist who, like Mella, was aware of his Dominican identity and of the conditions taking place during that time; both men understood that the Dominicans were worthy of living in freedom and didn't deserve to continue enduring humiliation and oppression under foreign domination. It was this friendship that would integrate Mella into a scene of revolutionary reactions that were taking shape in Dominican society.

Confusion about his name

To this day, historians have debated on the correct pronunciation of his name. In his baptism certificate, marriage certificate as well as in his will and official documents such as his appointment as Minister of War and later Vice President of the Dominican Republic during the restoration government, it is stated that his name was ''Ramón Mella Castillo'' and he cannot be found any historical support, except for a few documents that he signed as ''Mr. Mella'' and ''M. Ramón Mella'', that his name was ''Matías Ramón Mella''.

For example, Mella's baptismal certificate, signed by the parish priest Agustín Tavares, reads as follows: “In the city of Santo Domingo and March six of one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, I, the undersigned Lieutenant Priest of this Holy Church of the Cathedral, solemnly baptized I put oil and chrisma on Ramón, eleven days old, the legitimate son of Antonio de Mella and Francisca Castillo, natives of this city and our parishioners." Years later, after getting married, on August 30, 1836, in the departure of marriage, it can be read that “at seven o'clock at night, before me, Martín Guzmán Galicia, Official of the Civil Status of the Common of Santo Domingo, the citizens Ramón Mella, a native of this city, of older age, Preposé of the common of San Cristóbal and Josefa Brea, a native of this city, of older age.”

Historian Alcides García Lluberes maintains that Mella was apparently born around midnight between February 24 and 25, 1816, because his middle name, ''Matías'', corresponds to the Saint of the day February 24. Prior to independence, however, there are documents in Mella signed as ''MR Mella'', as recorded in the Manifestation of January 16, 1844, and in a communication of February 28 that the Central Government Board addressed to the French Consul Saint Denys. However, his friends and co-religionists of the Trinitarios did not call him ''Matías''. In a letter dated November 15, 1843, written in correspondence between his peers, among other things, was written: “Ramón Mella He is preparing to go there, although he tells us that he is going to Saint Thomas and you should not trust him.”

The generality of the official and private documents consulted indicates that, during his public life, the hero never signed ''Matías Ramón'', but instead indistinctly stamped his signature as ''Ramón Mella, R. Mella'' or simply ''Mella''. In his Will, made and signed on May 5, 1859, the following is recorded: “Before me, José Leandro García, Public Notary of the residence of Puerto Plata, signed below. Mr. Don Ramón Mella, Division General of the Armies of the Republic, Commander of Arms of this city, where he is the owner and domiciled, appeared at my office and declared.” At the end of the aforementioned will, the hero signed: ''R. Mella''; signature with which he also endorsed a patriotic Proclamation addressed “To my fellow citizens," on 16 January 1864. During the restoration war, several official documents show that the Minister of War and also General in Chief of the Armies of the South was ''Ramón Mella'', a name that appears in various decrees issued by the restoration government. Not many people are aware that on March 17, 1864, with his health already very deteriorated, Mella was elected vice president of the restoration government. Additionally, in the Book of Minutes of the Sessions of the Supreme Government of the Republic we read that "by secret scrutiny, and the vote was collected, the honorable General Ramón Mella was unanimously elected." Immediately afterward the Government ordered that "it be duly communicated to Mr. General Ramón Mella the election that has been made in his person for vice president."

In various letters that he shared with his relatives and collaborators of the independence cause, they never referred to him as ''Matías'' and in fact, they did not mention his middle name, so it is not known how or why in some history texts their first names have been exchanged. Because of this, it has led to historical confusion about his name. But in most cases, he is referred to as ''Matías Ramón Mella''.

Revolutionary leader

First activities under Duarte

By 1838, Mella's association with Perez allowed him to be introduced to his mentor, Juan Pablo Duarte. Duarte was looking to recruit new members for the nationalistic movement, La Trinitaria, a secret organization that sought to establish an independent nation by liberating the Dominican people from Haitian rule. For Duarte and the other independence members, imbued with the nationalist and liberal ideology that had spread throughout Europe since the French Revolution, the former Spanish part of the island had its own identity and should become an independent state. Mella accepted the invitation to join the movement. Although he may not have been among those who took the oath on July 16, 1838, Duarte later identified him as one of the founders of La Trinitaria. Regardless, Mella became an active participant in efforts to promote independence. Duarte emphasized the importance of action and patriotism, ideas that resonated with Mella and other members of the movement.

Over the next five years, the Trinitarios carried out various activities in order to propagate separatist and independence ideas to other Dominicans. However, when this movement was caught on by the Haitian authorities, it became necessary to create two other organizations, which were much more flexible than La Trinitaria – La Filantrópica and La Dramática, through which awareness-raising efforts were less compromising. Within these five years, Mella gained recognition for his contributions and earned Duarte's trust.

Duarte and his companions worked to convince many Dominicans that independence was achievable. This explains why they were prepared when struggles for power began between leading sectors of Haitian society. Since the early 1830s, a liberal opposition emerged in the Haitian Chamber of Deputies against Boyer. Almost all the delegates from the Department of the South were part of this opposition, which had as its social base a segment of the same ruling mulatto sector. Boyer proceeded to dismiss some of the elected liberals, mainly Hérard Dumesle and David Saint Preux, with which his government adopted undisguised dictatorial overtones. The liberal leaders resorted to the conspiracy with the aim of overthrowing Boyer. Aware of the plans of the Haitian liberals and demonstrating strategic foresight about what the process of preparing the conditions for Dominican independence should be, Duarte decided to establish an alliance with them. Duarte calculated that the fall of the Boyer regime would lead to a worsening of the conflicts within Haiti and weaken their power.

Duarte saw Mella as disciplined and capable, qualities he believed suited him for leadership roles. After Juan Nepomuceno Ravelo's unsuccessful mission to establish an alliance with Haitian liberals, Duarte tasked Mella with traveling to the Haitian village of Les Cayes in January 1843. Mella's missions was to seek support for a reform movement to challenge Boyer's regime. There, Mella stayed at the house of Jérôme-Maximilien Borgella, a Haitian general and politician, who was also a former governor of Santo Domingo. Meanwhile, Boyer's acceptance had begun to wane because of the excessive rise in taxes, the benefits of which did not revert to the population, but to France, to which Boyer had promised compensation in exchange for recognizing Haitian independence. In this way, groups opposed to the Boyer regime arose in Haiti itself. By this time the island had become increasingly frustrated with Boyer's repressive dictatorship, combined with his negligent response following a sudden earthquake that had struck Haiti a year earlier, and was plotting to overthrow the government, a situation to which Duarte believed could be used as an advantage.

Subsequently, Mella came into contact with the Haitian opposition leader Charles Rivière-Hérard, who in turn led the reform movement, which came to be known as La Reforma, in March 1843. It only took Mella several days to reach an agreement with the revolutionaries. Thanks to Mella's demonstration of diplomatic skills, the Trinitarios placed themselves in a solid position against the Haitian Reformists and were able to organize themselves in favor of the movement. However, for Hérard, he was completely unaware that the Dominicans' true purpose was to prepare for the definitive separation of the Haitian government. On March 24, Mella, along with Perez and Pedro Alejandro Pina met at Plaza del Carmen to proclaim the Dominican adherence to the Reform movement. After a month and a half of military operations in the vast southern peninsula of Haiti, Boyer's troops were defeated, causing Boyer to flee the island, bringing an end to Boyer’s regime.

It can be inferred that the Triniatrios and the Haitian liberals in the city of Santo Domingo did not have much strength, as they had to wait for the news to arrive that Boyer had resigned to start an uprising in favor of La Reforma. In fact, many people spontaneously took to the streets when news of the events in the Haitian capital became known. However, the Trinitarios placed themselves at the forefront of the demonstrations, thus becoming the representatives of the population's desires. Mella was one of those who stood out in the events that led to the capitulation of the Boyer's troops of Santo Domingo. He, along with Duarte, was among the members of the Popular Board of Santo Domingo, a local body of power in which Trinitarios and Haitian liberals coexisted. Relations between the two sectors quickly deteriorated. The Trinitarios began to carry out almost open independence propaganda, and on the basis of that preaching, they won the local elections held on June 15 in Santo Domingo. At this moment the rupture between Haitian liberals (reformists) and Dominican liberals (Trinitarios) was consummated.

In June of that same year, Duarte, who considered necessary it for the next stage of the cause, entrusted Mella to return to Santo Domingo with the mission of disseminating the political ideas advocated by the revolutionaries. At that time, debates arose in the eastern portion of the island about who would obtain the representation of the Dominicans, causing friction between liberals and conservatives. Thus, in July 1843, Mella departed from Les Ceyes and moved to Central Cibao to continue promoting his republican Ideals for independence. However, Hérard, who was now the president of Haiti, learned of the true motives of Mella and his companions and traveled to the eastern part of the island to arrest the conspirators. He would imprison Mella, (who was arrested in San Francisco de Macorís), in Port-au-Prince, where he remained for two months. However, in this very city a rebellion erupted against Hérard, who was only able to dominate with the help of Mella and the incarcerated veterans whom he freed. Herárd mistakenly believed that Dominican insurrection attempts had ceased, and was persuaded that they lacked sufficient power to crystallize independence because the eastern part was branded as poor, distant and sparsely populated. (In fact, from a demographic point of view, Haiti had approximately 800,000 inhabitants compared to Santo Domingo, whose population numbered only 135,000 inhabitants).

Manifesto of January 16, 1844

As civil unrest continued to erupt in Haiti, Mella used the opportunity to return to Santo Domingo to proceed to the next phase of independence. But by now, Duarte was not present due to his exile when learning of the tenacious persecution that would be made against him by the Haitians. This left the Trinitarios without their leader. Therefore, in agreement with Vicente Celestino Duarte, Tomas de la Concha, Jacinto de la Concha, Gabino Puello and José Joaquín Puello, they were left to lead the revolution and declare independence. It was agreed then that the date of which the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the new nation was arranged for February 27, 1844.

However, following the Reform movement, the political situation of the eastern portion of the island became extremely effervescent. According to historian José Gabriel García, there was widespread concern to the point that all was left to do was for the statement to be made. However, clashes between the Trinitarios and various groups (pro-French and pro-Spanish separatists) disputed the primacy of the revolutionary movement and the new order of the change that was approaching.

Mella restarted his work in favor of independence and took the initiative on his own. The most important, as the documents indicate, was to advocate for an alliance with the conservatives. Taking stock of the raid carried out by Hérard, he came to the conclusion that the liberal sector lacked the necessary strength to overthrow Haitian rule on its own. Initially, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, who had been in charge of the Trinitarios after Duarte's departure, opposed this approach, trying to have the declaration of independence made by the Trinitarios separately. Finally, Sánchez was convinced of the relevance of the alliance, so he resumed collaboration with Mella. The latter had established relations with Tomás Bobadilla, one of the most senior conservatives, who had also come to the conclusion that it was necessary to overcome the differences with the “boys," since neither of the two parties had the capacity to promote independence without the help of the other. Mella's impact on the agreement between liberals and conservatives was part of the inspiration for the Manifesto of January 16, 1844, a document that set out the reasons for Dominican independence. The content of the document was first discussed between Sánchez and Mella, who then presented it to Bobadilla, so that he could introduce corrections and extensions, in recognition of his experience and intellectual capacity and because he acted as the representative of the higher social sectors. In the days before the revolution, after the agreement between liberals and conservatives, Mella had a hand in everything that was being planned.

Declaration of Dominican independence

Sources vary on how the events of the "blunderbuss" shot transpired. It is said that on the night of February 27, 1844, when the revolutionaries met at the destined meeting spot, they were shocked to discover the number of those expected to appear was much smaller than expected. This was due to the Haitian authorities being alerted, who, responding to the conspiracy, deployed a military operation in key parts of the city. Faced with this situation, one of those present, having verified that not all of his fellow freedom fighters were present, suggested postponing these plans until further favorable circumstances. Mella, however, objected to the proposal and declared the impossibility of turning back. He then fired his blunderbuss shot into the air to end the hesitation that threatened to bring failure. A testimony, written by Eustache Juchereaux Saint Denys, a member of the French consul in Santo Domingo, who had heard the famous blunderbuss, writes:

José María Serra de Castro, one of the founders of La Trinitaria, who was an author of one of the main historical sources of the 1844 revolution, wrote that once Duartistas and Febreristas met at La Misercordia, they found that the number of attendees was less than expected. He explains:

However, Manuel de Jesús Galván, a politician and author, narrates those events in these terms:

After this, the patriots marched toward the stronghold of San Gennaro (today Conde Gate), where another patrician, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, proclaimed to the world the birth of the Dominican Republic.

Independent Republic

Return to the Cibao

After the formation of the First Dominican Republic, Mella was acquired by the Central Government Board, with Sánchez serving as president. On March 2, 1844, Mella sent a letter to Duarte, Pérez, and Pińa, all of whom were in Curaçao, informing them of the success of the revolt and of affairs of the new state. A few days later, Mella left for the Cibao in order to direct the defense against the Haitians and proceed to the organization of the new state in said region, the most important in the country from the economic wealth and the size of its population. With the rank of colonel and delegate of the board, Mella proposed to organize the defense around the city of Santiago, believing that the city would prove to be vital in the war. Mella was aware that if the city was captured, the road to the capital would be clear for the enemy troops. Upon reaching the city, he replaced the weapons commander. He then realized then the city lacked soldiers, so he left a command chart and a combat plan before marching towards San José de Las Matas, (then known as La Sierra), to recruit more soldiers. He also left the instruction of forcing the characters to subordinate themselves to the influential leaders, from the northwest line, of the new government who were still hesitating, avoiding actions of small conflicts against the Haitians and concentrating all resources to defend Santiago, since defending the city was an easier tactic. Mella even considered the fact that since Santiago was far from the border, the invading troops would have to endure an exhausting march as well as supply difficulties.

He used that time to enlist José María Imbert, from Moca, as second in command of the newly constituted National Army, which would later become the Liberation Army. Mella would also assume the position of governor of Santiago and delegate of the Central Government Board, acting as chief political and general for the army.

When leaving Santiago in the direction of La Sierra, Mella did not calculate the enemy's maneuverability. The governor of the Department of Northern Haiti, General Jean-Louis Pierrot, at the head of 10,000 men, was approaching Santiago by forced marches. This was facilitated by the fact that he registered almost no opposition due to numerical superiority and Mella's directive to concentrate all available resources in Santiago. In a panic, Mella embarked on his journey back to Santo Domingo to warn his comrades, but not before giving instructions to Imbert, who was now the lieutenant, to combat the upcoming attack. The forecasts made by Mella and the competent leadership of Imbert resulted in a crushing defeat being inflicted on the Haitians in the Battle of Santiago, who had hundreds of dead, while, apparently, few Dominicans lost their lives. The confusion for the Haitians was so great that Pierrot accepted a truce and decided to return hastily to Cap-Haïtien when he was shown a flyer containing the false news that President Hérard had died in Azua. This withdrawal guaranteed the safety of the Cibao.

Over the next two months, Mella dedicated himself to consolidating the defense of the region and ordered the advance of Dominican troops to the border. As a representative of the liberal Trinitarios, Mella faced opposition from conservative sectors of the region, who obeyed the guidance of the majority of the Government Board. Despite this, Mella obtained broad support, which was a sign that liberal positions found greater acceptance in Cibao than in Santo Domingo. (The capital was the focus of the conservative group, as the residence of the leading sectors of the country. On the other hand, in the southern region, there were social relations that largely had their origin in colonial times, especially extensive livestock farming. On the other hand, in the surroundings of Santiago, tobacco production had been developing, allowing the emergence of a peasantry linked to the market and a more modern and dynamic urban middle class than that existing in Santo Domingo).

On one hand, in the South Band, there were social relations that largely had their origin in colonial times, especially extensive livestock farming. On the other hand, in the surroundings of Santiago, tobacco production had been developing, allowing the emergence of a peasantry linked to the market and a more modern and dynamic urban middle class than that existing in Santo Domingo.

Military coup of June 9, 1844

Events took a different turn following the victory in the Battle of Azua. With Duarte's return to the country, Mella voted to elect him as president of the Central Government Board with the purpose of preventing another annexation by any foreign power. He would address this in a letter to Sánchez:

But by now, Sánchez was no longer in power. The board was under the presidency of Bobadilla that the organization proposed, through the letter of March 8, 1844, addressed to Auguste Levasseur, the French diplomat, a French protectorate, which evidently implied a return to the Levasseur Plan. Apparently, Bobadilla, Sánchez, José María Caminero, and various other politicians had signed this letter. But Mella's signature does not appear there: on that date, he was still active trip to Cibao. Bobadilla had not yet assumed the Presidency of the Board, when it agreed to send the schooner “Leonor” to Curaçao in search of Duarte, who arrived in the capital on March 14, 1844, and was immediately incorporated into the Central Government Board.

After learning of Bobadilla's annexationist plans, Duarte decided to stage a military uprising to stop it. On June 9, 1844, representatives of the “protectionist” sector were toppled, and Sánchez was reinstated. The new Board withdrew the powers of that Commission, and Mella felt free to act. He then concentrated his efforts on promoting a movement aimed at bringing Duarte—in whom he continued to see the immaculate teacher—to the Presidency of the Republic. Faced with such a situation of divergence, the Trinitarios, who were now in control of the government, decided to send Duarte to Cibao, in order to reinforce Mella's authority. This promoted Duarte being treated in a godlike way in all the towns he passed through. In Santiago, the troops and people gathered together and hailed Duarte as president of the Dominican Republic. Even though Mella may have promoted the pronouncement, there is no doubt that Duarte was considered the father of the country and acted as an interpreter of popular sentiment, contrary to what some historians have stated, who maintain that the Trinitarios lacked influence in those critical moments.

Several historians have criticized Mella for having led the proclamation of Duarte as president, arguing that it was an improvised act and the first of the illicit pronouncements that would later give rise to civil strife. In reality, the proclamation responded to a well-defined criterion that the Trinitarios had about their leader and teacher. Additionally, at that time Mella and other liberals understood that the fate of the Republic was in danger, which justified Duarte being elevated to supreme command. They considered it imperative to confront the anti-national efforts of the conservatives, who by all means wanted the country to become a secret colony of France. On the other hand, it was not intended to establish an illegal dictatorship, since Duarte's presidency was always considered provisional, subject to subsequent consultation with the population, in accordance with the democratic conceptions of the Trinitarios.

Far from having been a mistake, Duarte's proclamation to the presidency demonstrates Mella’s influence; and shows that he captured in all its intensity the greatness of the father of the country and what he represented against the annexationism of the conservatives. Mella showed that he was endowed with superior ideas and showed signs of courage and audacity, traits that allowed him a significant role in the independence process. However, Duarte's proclamation of the presidency lacked practical consequences in resolving the debate between conservatives and liberals.

Counterstrike and exile

Meanwhile, Pedro Santana, backed by his troops and by the tacit alliance they had reached with the French Consul and the most prominent members of the “colonialist” group, headed towards the capital of the new State, with the purpose of assuming the entire power. Eager to avoid this event, Juan Isidro Pérez and Pedro Alejandro Pina did everything possible to organize a solid defense in the city. Unfortunately, on July 12, 1844, Santana crossed the city walls, where he found no opposition, and the next day he carried out a coup d'état. When the changes that had occurred in Santo Domingo became known, Mella's position weakened. The Cibaeño conservatives intensified the conspiracy and the liberals found themselves unable to confront the implementation of the Santana dictatorship. In any case, at the beginning Mella managed to maintain the fidelity of the main authorities, but his situation became increasingly unstable.

Despite its economic and demographic weight, the Cibao region lacked power mechanisms, especially in the military aspect, as there were no command systems that could compete with those of Santo Domingo. A considerable part of its leaders – although they were not supporters of Santana and the conservatives – came to the conclusion that it was impossible to oppose them because it introduced the risk of a civil war, in which they would probably be defeated and open the doors upon the return of the Haitians. The fear of the Cibaeño leaders of civil war, which led them to lean towards an agreement with the authority established in Santo Domingo, meant the defeat of the region against the centralism of Santo Domingo, which would be reiterated on subsequent occasions.

Immediately, the Trinitarios were persecuted: Duarte was reduced to prison in Puerto Plata, and Mella himself suffered the same fate. Under pressure from some prestigious figures in the area, Mella decided to go to Santo Domingo to negotiate with Santana on behalf of Cibao. Upon arriving at the end of August, he was immediately reduced to prison, which gave the signal for all Cibaeño authorities to decide to abide by Santana's authority. The hostility towards Mella was led by General Francisco A. Salcedo, but other figures with a hesitant stance, such as General Antonio López Villanueva, decided to join the conservative Junta. In fact, no one dared to support Duarte after Mella left Santiago. That same day, the new government issued the resolution that condemned them to permanent exile. While in exile, Mella chose to settle in Puerto Rico, opting to remain close to his homeland.

Return to Dominican Republic

Eventually, in 1848, Mella, along with Sánchez, was granted an amnesty decreed by president Manuel Jimenes to return to the country. A few weeks after arriving in the country, he attempted to hatch a conspiracy against the Jiménes administration, which he rightly accused of being improvident and inept. But he gave up the purpose since he encountered the opposition of Pina, Sánchez, and Juan Evangelista Jiménez, who had also returned to the homeland protected by the amnesty decree. He then resettled in Puerto Plata, working in the woodcuts, away from political affairs. However, by March 1849, Haitian President Faustin Soulouque issued the third campaign against the Dominican Republic. Mella, having rejoined the ranks of the army, commanded a battalion sent to the border to confront the overwhelming force. Forced to retreat to Azua, he advised Antonio Duvergé to continue the retreat towards Baní. Two weeks later, Santana took over the leadership of the army by Congress. Mella took part in the Battle of Las Carreras, in one of the main command positions. He was said to have occupied Palmar de Ocoa to repel the attack of the invading Haitian army, securing Dominican victory.

After delivering the famous defeat to the Haitian troops, Santana ignored the Jiménez government. Mella became linked to Santana, who appointed him his private secretary. Like Sánchez, Mella saw that there was no possibility of reconstituting a liberal grouping, so he believed it was necessary to integrate into current politics. Now, the two heroes took largely divergent positions in the politics of the time: while Sánchez associated with Buenaventura Báez, Mella maintained a constant relationship with Santana. Mella made the mistake of supporting the autocrat in associating the fate of the country with the protection of power. This position opens a difficult stage to evaluate in the life of Mella, who as part of the leadership team that surrounded Santana, remained silent in the face of the ruler's despotic actions. However, he did not renounce his liberal conceptions; Even when he accepted the establishment of a protectorate, at all times he conditioned it on respecting the independent status of the State.

When Baez became president in September 1849, Mella was appointed Secretary of State for Commerce and the Treasury. He even briefly served as Minister of Finance of the Dominican Republic from 1849 to 1850. After serving his term, Mella once again retired to his home in Puerto Plata. For unknown reasons, Mella did not reconcile with Báez, instead choosing to align himself with Santana. Thus, upon Santana's return to power, Mella denounced Báez and even advocated to banished him.

Diplomatic mission to Spain

Mella's most important performance during those years was the diplomatic mission to the Spanish government, in order for it to agree to take charge of a protectorate over the Dominican Republic or, if it was not interested, to make diplomatic recognition. Mella believed that the plans of Haiti's government constituted a real and imminent danger and that the country had no other option than to obtain the protection of power. The panic caused by the previous Haitian invasion was still alive in the collective memory, and the reports reaching Santo Domingo indicated that a new invasion would occur at any moment. It can be deduced that this fear was the basis of Mella's agreement with the Santana leadership, who was seen as a guarantee of independence against the aggressions from Haiti. In mid-December 1853, Mella embarked for Puerto Rico, where he obtained credentials from the governor, Fernándo Norzagaray y Escudero, and from there, he continued to Spain.

This mission lasted for six months. He arrived in the old metropolis at the beginning of February 1854 and during the following months, he held negotiations with Spanish officials, without any consequences. At that time, Spain had no interest in taking charge of a protectorate over the Dominican Republic and refused to recognize independence because it considered that it did not bring it any advantages. Secretly, Mella, still holding onto the morals of the Trinitarios, had anticipated Spain to agree to recognize Dominican independence. However, in one of the documents that he presented to the Spanish government, he stated that Spain was the legitimate owner of the territory of the Dominican Republic and that the protectorate over the latter meant for the old Metropolis one more guarantee, over those it may have today to be preserved indefinitely in the Caribbean. In May 1854, Mella decided to return to the Dominican Republic, but not before addressing in a farewell letter to Luis José Sartorius, who also was the President of the Council of Ministers, the reluctance of the Spanish government to recognize the independence of the Dominican Republic. In that letter, he writes:

At the end of May, Mella left Madrid and arrived sick in Santo Domingo in the first days of August. Days later he received votes for the vice presidency. Upon his return from Spain, Mella asked to be given a mission in Puerto Plata for the purpose of attending his mahogany court. After declining the position of Secretary of War, he was appointed to Commander of Arms for the city. He even accepted the position of governor of La Vega and became of one Santana's advisors.

By 1856, there was another threat to Dominican sovereignty. The Spanish consul, Antonio María Segovia, conspiring with Báez, carried out a plan to destabilize Santana's administration. This was due to the fact that Mella's mission in Madrid had failed, causing Santana to turn his attention to the United States for a protectorate. Alarmed, Spain reconsidered the recognition of Dominican independence to cease detrimental effects on its control of Cuba, an island that the U.S. aspired to annex. This resulted in a political scandal known as ''Segovia Registration Scandal.'' Báez's supporters registered at the consulate and took advantage of their status as Spaniards to deploy an active opposition. At one point Mella proposed to exercise dictatorship in order to counteract the Spanish consul, but he did not accept, and advocated for Segovia to be expelled from the nation. During a meeting at the Dominican National Palace, Mella exclaimed with the following: "The Constitutional Government has enough force of law to be respected and save the Nation. I, the Government, take Segovia, I wrap him in his flag, and expel him from the country''."'' Santana, however, did not share his views.

In July 1856, he was tasked to draft a bill with the purpose of organizing the army, once again demonstrating his skills as a combatant and military man. He was even nominated for the position of Vice President, but he rejected it, instead suggesting the position to Felipe Alfau. The position was eventually filled by Manuel de Regla Mota, but resigned after a short term, handing the seat back to Báez. Immediately after assuming office, Baez ordered Santana's arrest and expulsion from the island. Santana would be deported to Martinique. However, most of his supporters, including Mella, were spared from persecution. He once again remained in Puerto Plata, away from public affairs, and concentrated on his wood cutting.

Cibaeño Revolution and aftermath

When the revolution against Buenaventura Baez began in Santiago on July 7, 1857, who with his economic mistakes had led the country to the threshold of a financial catastrophe, Mella was one of the first to join that movement of liberal and neo-Duartist orientation. In this famous civil war, Mella consolidated his immense military prestige with the audacious seizure of Plaza de Semaná, which he personally directed at the beginning of May 1858. Because of this action, he received one of the most brilliant and jubilant receptions that the people of Santiago gave him, of which the government was headed by José Desiderio Valverde. Although they did not coincide in frontal combat, the revolution put Mella and his old friend, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, on opposing sides. Mella remained related to Santana after he took the presidency of the Dominican Republic for the last time in August 1858, after Báez's flight. Despite the consideration that President Valverde had shown him, Mella supported Santana's coup d'état, who again appointed him commander of arms of Puerto Plata.

After the revolution, Mella retired to the countryside, while still remaining active in the national affairs of the country. It was around those days that Máximo Raybaud, Consul General of France in Port-au-Prince, and already known as a sympathizer of the Dominicans, (like his predecessor Levasseur), appeared in the country to propose to President Santana to accept Emperor Soulouque's demands to merge the country with Haiti. Santana, outraged, not only rejected the proposal, but even sent Raybaud his passport so that he could immediately leave the Dominican Republic. The military authorities throughout the country adhered to Santana's attitude, and Mella, in Puerto Plata, led such a demonstration.

Final struggle for independence

Return of Spanish rule

Despite the country's independence being secured, the nation was still in a crisis. Following the conclusion of the war, Santana inherited a bankrupt government that was on the brink of collapse. The misrule of his power, as well as the aftermath of Baez's corrupt government, drastically exhausted the nation's treasury. Faced with the economic turmoil, and fearful of another invasion from Haiti, Santana turned to a foreign power for protection. After failing to reach an agreement with France, he eventually turned to Spain, with Queen Isabella II. In exchange for honorary privileges, and military and economic intervention, Santana agreed to return the Dominican Republic back to colonial status. Spain, who by now was losing control of most of its former colonies, used this opportunity to reinsert its control in Latin America. The United States, entering the early stages of its Civil War, was left unable to enforce the Monroe Doctrine. This decision caused a national uproar among the population. Mella, of course, did not accept this, and along with his fellow patriots, pledged their full opposition to the annexation. But because of this, he would be imprisoned by Santana, who confined him to the fearsome Tower of Homage, (present-day Ozama Fortress) for 72 days. He would later be deported to Saint Thomas. Mella endured illness and poverty and supported himself with small aid from the government. Although he was allowed to return, he once again expressed his opposition against the annexation and was deported for the last time.

On March 20, 1861, the annexation to Spain was finalized, and Spanish troops had already begun to arrive in the country. With no time to waste, Mella made his way back to his homeland. But this would come with difficulty as Mella was without resources or military support. While on board an English ship that was stranded in Puerto Rico, he unsuccessfully attempted to ask the crew for support to go ashore on Dominican land and take command of the force with the purpose of starting his revolution.

On June 3, 1861, he wrote a letter to Santana, once again proclaiming his opposition to the annexation, and denouncing Santana's actions as treacherous. He writes:

With this uncompromising statement in the face of Santana's betrayal, he regained his stature as a hero. But due to his health, he was unable to join Sánchez in his expedition into the Dominican Republic. A month later, he learned the unfortunate news that Sánchez, betrayed and ambushed, was executed on the orders of Santana for opposing Spanish rule on July 4, 1861.

Joining the Restoration forces

After Sánchez's execution, Mella remained attentive to the evolution of events, looking for a way to restart the fight against Spanish rule. On two separate occasions, he tried to enter the country through Puerto Plata but was surprised by the Spanish authorities. By August 15, 1863, having slipped passed the authorities by pretending to accept Spanish citizenship, Mella was back on the island. With his return, he immediately integrated himself into the armed struggle that raged from the Cibao to restore the Republic. In mid-September, he was acquired into the Restorative government that had formed in Santago. He traveled through numerous sectors of the south, with the task of rounding up restoration troops for general Pedro Florentino. He was also able to align himself with the young revolutionary, Gregorio Luperón. By December 1863, the news even spread in Puerto Plata that "General Mella has collected ten thousand tobacco serones from the merchants with the intention of shipping them to Montecristi or Haiti to the North and bringing war supplies."

For his contributions, he was appointed Minister of War, his first act in this position was to create a war manual for the soldiers, which he produced in January 1864. This manual consisted of military regulations and advice to campaign commanders of the Dominican Army on the kind of war they should wage on the occupying Spanish forces. (After the war, it was taken to the United States Military Academy). He had observed that frontal encounters led to the defeat of the Dominicans, as had happened to President José Antonio Salcedo, in the Battle of Sabana de San Pedro, on January 23, 1864. He issued a circular regarding the use of the guerrilla method. In the text, which condensed his military genius and his understanding of the Dominican environment, he argued that the disadvantages in organization and weapons forced the Dominicans to adopt a guerrilla warfare tactic, anticipating the theoretical expositions on this tactic.

Around the same time, Mella issued his final manifesto. He proclaimed himself in support of the rebels, declaring to the Dominicans to rise up arms against the Spanish Empire to restore national independence, and even called for the end of Spanish rule in the Caribbean. He expressed his words in the following content:

At the time of the Capotillo Outcry ( Grito de Capotillo) (August 16, 1863), Mella served as Vice President of the Dominican Republic in the government of the Restoration. Despite his ailing health, he did manage to lead several successful attacks on the Spanish forces. In this capacity, he was commissioned as a government delegate in the south, a mission he accepted despite his deteriorating state of health, aware of the difficulties faced by the national war in the region. He made the journey to San Juan through Jarabacoa and Constanza in February 1864. He was unable to fulfill his mission, due to the resistance offered by General Juan de Jesús Salcedo, a subject lacking any patriotic condition. Mella stayed only a few days at his destination and had to return through rugged roads in Haiti. That trip worsened his health, eaten away by cancer. The government of Santiago had to send him a letter so he could reach the city.

Duarte's final visit, death, and aftermath

On March 27, 1864, Mella was visited by his best friend, Duarte, who had just arrived in the country during this time, at his home. Duarte had used this opportunity to greet his ailing comrade one last time. Five says later, Duarte left for Santiago, taking Mella with him along with his delegation that accompanied him from Caracas. Upon arrival, Mella was placed in a humble house at the foot of the San Luis Fortress, where he would spend his last days. The hero Manuel Rodríguez Objío described the visit of Juan Pablo Duarte to Mella with the following words:

In his final moments, Mella's wife, Josefa, stayed by his side. She took turns caring for him with some close neighbors. On June 4, 1864, in the midst of the bloody war, Mella, a key figure in Dominican independence, died at the young age of 48. Before he died, Mella reportedly stated shortly before his death: "''There is a still homeland, Long Live the Dominican Republic''." In accordance with his final wishes, his body was wrapped around the Dominican flag, and buried as he desired. Josefa, by the order of the restoration government, received 500 pesos for her living. Not too long afterward, his mother, Francisca Castillo, died on July 17, 1864, of dropsy at age 74.

The Dominican Restoration War continued on after his death throughout the nation. Many on both sides were lost, but thanks to Mella's war manual, this became a crucial asset for the Dominican rebels, who despite once again facing an outnumbering, and very powerful army, would still oversee more victories against Spain. This ultimately led to the decisive victory of the Dominicans, who, (yet again), successfully regaining independence from Spain, successfully expelling the Spanish forces off the island and restoring the national independence in 1865. Santana, disgraced and facing trial, died on June 29, 1864, 25 days after Mella's death.

Legacy

Mella was a major figure in the history of the Dominican Republic. Of the Founding Fathers of the Republic, Mella represented the militant and determined expression and the most adapted to the political activities of a pre-capitalist society. A man of respect and dignity, his loyalty to his comrades, as well as the nation remained a driving force in Mella. From joining the Trinitarios, the battles fought with Haiti, internal disputes, and the restoration war against Spain, Mella stayed true to his word. Despite the dark period between the Dominican War of Independence and the Spanish occupation of the Dominican Republic, his vision and desire for an independent Dominican state remained with him to the end. Manuel Rodríguez Objío once noted:

Puerto Rican nationalist Eugenio María de Hostes, spoke warmly of Mella's heroism. His admiration for the revolutionary is evidenced in the following text:

He continued with the following, this time in comparison with Duarte and Sánchez:

On May 15, 1890, the company Hijos del Pueblo asked the national congress for authorization to exhume the remains of Mella and transfer them to Santo Domingo, which was finally carried out on June 6, 1890, and with the exhumation pieces were found. of the national flag that served as his shroud. His body finally arrived in Santo Domingo coincidentally on the day of the 75th anniversary of his birth (February 25, 1891) and was finally buried in the chapel of the immortals of the cathedral on February 27, with speeches by Monsignor Nouel and Federico Henríquez y Carvajal.

Three years later in 1894, through the Resolution No. 332 of April 11, dictator Ulises Heureaux ordered that Duarte, Mella, and Sánchez were the official Founding Fathers of the Dominican Republic. Since then, Dominicans venerate the memory of Mella, and of his illustrious companions, as the Founders of the Dominican Republic. On February 27, 1944, 100 years after the independence, Rafael Trujillo ordered that these remains would once again be transferred to Puerta del Conde, where they are converted into the Altar of the Homeland, and deposited under the triumphal arch of that memorable monument. His ashes remained there for the next three decades, until in 1976, on the 100th anniversary of Duarte's death, President Joaquín Balaguer ordered that his ashes be removed and transferred to the museum in Parque Independcia, where currently all Dominicans pay tribute to the distinguished revolutionaries Duarte, Sánchez, and Mella.

In addition, Mella was awarded many honors for his revolutionary status.
* He is entombed in a beautiful mausoleum, Altar de la Patria, at the Count's Gate ( Puerta del Conde) alongside Duarte and Sánchez.
* In the province of Independencia, the city of Mella is named in his honor.
* A section in Santo Domingo, Villa Mella, is named in his honor. (In 2001, it was recognized by UNESCO for its preservation of African heritage in the Dominican Republic).
* Puente Matías Ramón Mella, which crosses the Ozama River, was inaugurated in 1972.
* Many streets in the Dominican Republic are named after him.
* In the city of Santo Domingo, a statue has been made in his honor.
* Mella is solely depicted on the 10 Dominican peso note and coin; he is also depicted on the 100 Dominican peso note alongside Duarte and Sánchez.
* A Dominican anthem is dedicated to his legacy

Ancestry

See also

* Juan Pablo Duarte
* Francisco del Rosario Sánchez
* José Maria Imbert
* Pedro Santana
* Julio Antonio Mella

References

Sources

Historical website of the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in New YorkHistoria Dominicana en Gráficas

Bibliography

*Academia Dominicana de la Historia. ''Homenaje a Mella''. Santo Domingo, 1964.
*Cassá, Roberto. ''Matías Ramón Mella: el patriotismo hecho acción''. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Tobogan, 1999.
*Cruz Sánchez, Filiberto. ''Mella. Biografía política''. 2da ed. Santo Domingo, 1999.
*García, José Gabriel. ''Rasgos biográficos de dominicanos célebres''. Santo Domingo, 1971.
*Jiménes Grullón, Juan Isidro. ''Sociología política dominicana. Vol. I''. Santo Domingo, 1975.
*Martínez, Rufino. ''Diccionario biográfico-histórico dominicano (1821–1930)''. Santo Domingo, 1997.
*Rodríguez Demorizi, Emilio. ''Antecedentes de la Anexión a España''. Ciudad Trujillo, 1955.
*Rodríguez Demorizi, Emilio. ''Actos y doctrina del gobierno de la Restauración''. Santo Domingo, 1963.
*Soto Jiménez, José M. ''Semblanzas de los adalides militares de la independencia''. (Santo Domingo), s. f.
*Cripps, Louise L. ''The Spanish Caribbean: From Columbus to Castro'' (1979).
*Fagg, John Edwin. ''Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic'' (1965).

External links

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