Tercio de Cántabros Montañeses was a unit of infantry militias of the city of Buenos Aires of active participation during the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

invasions to the Río de la Plata.

History

The Batallón de Voluntarios Urbanos Cántabros Montañeses was created by decree of Santiago de Liniers, after the first British invasion to the city of Buenos Aires. It was composed in its majority by Criollos and Spaniards natives of the Cantabria. His Commanders were

José de la Oyuela José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacul ...

, born

Santander Santander may refer to: Places * Santander, Spain, a port city and capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain * Santander Department, a department of Colombia * Santander State, former state of Colombia * Santander de Quilichao, a m ...

, and Pedro Andrés García, born in Caranceja. At first the Battalion of Cantabros Montañeses counted with four companies of fifty men. This military unit had a decisive participation during the second of the British Invasions, achieving the surrender of the Commanders Robert Craufurd and Denis Pack in the Santo Domingo Convent. In 1809, the members of the Cantabros Battalion were distinguished by the Junta Suprema de Sevilla, for their heroic participation in the defense of Buenos Aires. During the

Mutiny of Álzaga The Mutiny of Álzaga ( es, Asonada de Álzaga) was an ill-fated attempt to remove Santiago de Liniers as viceroy of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. It took place on January 1, 1809, and it was led by the merchant Martín de Álzaga (polit ...

, the Cántabros Montañeses were among the support troops of Viceroy Liniers.

Regimiento N° 4 de Infantería

The Tercio de Cántabros Montañeses supported the Argentinian emancipatory cause. After the

May Revolution The May Revolution ( es, Revolución de Mayo) was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. This Spanish colony included roughly the terri ...

, was renamed as the Regimiento N° 4 de Infantería of Buenos Aires (4th infantry regiment). Two companies of the Regimiento N° 4 had participated in the First Upper Peru campaign. This regiment was formed on the basis of the Cántabros Battalion and the

Tercio de Andaluces The Tercio de Andaluces, also known as Batallón de Voluntarios Urbanos de los Cuatro Reinos de Andalucía, was a unit of Spanish militias of the city of Buenos Aires of the 19th century. History The Tercio de Andaluces was created on October ...

. Among his distinguished officers were the Colonels Don

José Merelo José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacul ...

and Don

Ignacio Álvarez Thomas José Ignacio Álvarez Thomas (15 February 1787 – 20 July 1857) was a South American military commander and politician of the early 19th century. Biography Álvarez Thomas was born in Arequipa, Peru, and his family lived for some time in Lim ...

, and the lieutenants

Manuel Canaveris Manuel Canaveris (1787– c. 1825) was an Argentine army officer, who took part in the defense and reconquest of Buenos Aires during the English Invasions. He served under Colonel Ignacio Álvarez Thomas in the Tercio de Cántabros Montañeses, 4th ...

and Ángel Galup.

Gallery

File:Unif1807-Liniers-Montañeses1.jpg, Officer's uniform of the Cántabros Montañeses File:Unif1807-Liniers-Montañeses2.jpg, Uniform of soldier of the Cántabros Montañeses File:1807cantabros.jpg, Modern illustration of the Uniform of the Cántabros Montañeses File:Gazeta de Buenos Aires.jpg, donations of the 4th Regiment, Gazeta de Buenos Ayres File:La Gazeta de Buenos Aires.jpg, donations of the 4th Regiment, Gazeta de Buenos Ayres

References

{{reflist Regiments of Argentina Military history of Argentina Río de la Plata