Manuel María de Peralta y Alfaro (July 4, 1847 – August 1, 1930) was a

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

n diplomat and historian. De Peralta y Alfaro was born in Taras, Cartago,

, on July 4, 1847. He was the only Costa Rican to ever be given the designation of "Hero of the Motherland" twice.

Biography

Manuel was born to Bernardino de Peralta and Alvarado and Ana de Jesus Alfaro Lobo on July 4, 1847. He was the paternal grandson of José María de Peralta,

president of Costa Rica The president of the Republic of Costa Rica is the head of state and head of government of Costa Rica. The president is currently elected in direct elections for a period of four years, which is not immediately renewable. Two Vice President of ...

in 1822, who signed the

Declaration of Independence A declaration of independence is an assertion by a polity in a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another state or failed state, or are breaka ...

and Benefactor of the Fatherland. De Peralta y Alfaro married in 1884 to the Belgian countess Jehanne de Clérembault de Soer (1845-1919), Dowager Marchioness Gontaut Biron, who was also a cousin

Ferdinand de Lesseps Ferdinand Marie, Comte de Lesseps (; 19 November 1805 – 7 December 1894) was a French Orientalist diplomat and owner of Main Idea of the Suez Canal, which in 1869 joined the Mediterranean and Red Seas, substantially reducing sailing distan ...

Studies

De Peralta y Alfaro completed his first studies in Carthage and graduated with a Bachelor of Philosophy and subsequently earned a law degree from the

University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (UST; ), officially the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines or colloquially as ''Ustê'' (), is a Private university, private Catholic school, Catholic researc ...

. Whilst in Europe he also studied International Law and other disciplines. He acquired a good knowledge of such languages as French,

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, Portuguese,

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and

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Diplomatic career

He was a representative of

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. In November 1897 he formally began his diplomatic service in November 1871 as Secretary of the Legation of Costa Rica in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. He was Minister Resident of Costa Rica in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

(1875-1885) and

Minister Plenipotentiary An envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, usually known as a minister, was a diplomatic head of mission who was ranked below ambassador. A diplomatic mission headed by an envoy was known as a legation rather than an embassy. Under the ...

of Costa Rica in

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

(1887-1918),

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

(1880-1883 and 1887-1930),

(1879-1883 and 1887 - 1930),

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

(1880-1883 and 1887-1930), the

(1885-1887), the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

(1887-1898), the

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(1910-1930) and the

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(1902-1930), and delegate from Costa Rica in the

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(1921-1927). He was also Financial Agent of Costa Rica in the

and Minister Plenipotentiary of

El Salvador El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. El Salvador's capital and largest city is S ...

in the United States in 1886. It fell defending the rights' land of

at the arbitration dispute with

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, first to the

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and then to the Presidents of France

Félix Faure Félix François Faure (; 30 January 1841 – 16 February 1899) was President of France from 1895 until his death in 1899. A native of Paris, he worked as a tanner in his younger years. Faure became a member of the Chamber of Deputies for Seine- ...

and Emil Loubet. He received high honors from many countries, including the Legion of Honor of France. On 4 July 1997, upon completion of the sesquicentennial of his birth, the

Government of Costa Rica The politics of Costa Rica take place in a framework of a presidential system, presidential, Representative democracy, representative democratic republic, with a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the president and their cabinet, ...

posthumously awarded the rank of Ambassador

Emeritus ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". In some c ...

Activities as a historian and academic

He wrote several important historical works and collections rich documentaries published. His major works include The Republic of Costa Rica, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama in the sixteenth century, Costa Rica and Colombia from 1573 to 1581, its jurisdiction and territorial limits of the Panama Canal Nicaragua and Costa Rica in 1620 and 1887 Limits of Costa Rica and Colombia; History of the territorial jurisdiction of the Republic of Costa Rica, Costa Rica, the Mosquito Coast, Historical Atlas of the Republic of Costa Rica, and Veragua Mosquito Coast, territorial jurisdiction of the Republic of Costa Rica, El General Morazan and several poems and essays. He belonged to numerous academies and research companies and had close friendships with distinguished writers and intellectuals, including Juan Montalvo, Emilia Pardo Bazán and Rubén Darío .

Marquess of Peralta

In 1883 sought and obtained the transfer in favor of the Marquis de Peralta, Holy Roman title granted in 1738 by

Emperor Charles VI Charles VI (; ; 1 October 1685 – 20 October 1740) was Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy from 1711 until his death, succeeding his elder brother, Joseph I. He unsuccessfully claimed the throne of Spain follow ...

to his uncle's great great grandfather Juan Tomás de Peralta y Franco de Medina. He was the second and last holder of the title.

Awards

He was declared a Hero of the Nation by the Congress of Costa Rica in 1919 and 1927 .

Death

He died in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, France, on 1 August 1930. His remains were brought to Costa Rica's capital and was buried there. The Diplomatic Institute of the Foreign Ministry of Costa Rica and an avenue in the city of San Jose are named after him.

The Prize "Manuel Maria de Peralta"

The Prize "Manuel Maria de Peralta" is a recognition given by the Costa Rican Association of International Law "Philip C. Jessup" (ACODI) annually to a distinguished Costa Rican for their contributions to international law, the International Policy and Diplomacy. The Prize has been awarded so far, in its fourteen editions to the following persons: *Mr. Fernando Volio Jimenez (qdDg) *Dr. Fabio Fournier Jimenez (qdDg) *Carlos José Gutiérrez Gutiérrez, (qdDg) *Lic. Elisabeth Odio Benito *Lic. Sonia Picado Sotela *Dr. Rodolfo Piza Escalante (qdDg) *Mr. Rodrigo Madrigal Nieto (qdDg) *Dr. Gonzalo J. Facio Segreda *Dr.

Óscar Arias Sánchez Oscar or Oskar is a masculine given name of English and Irish origin. Etymology The name is derived from two elements in Irish: the first, ''os'', means "deer"; the second element, ''car'', means "loving" or "friend", thus "deer-loving one" or "f ...

*Mr. José Luis Quesada Molina *Manuel Ventura Robles *Dr. Bernd H. Niehaus Quesada *, Ambassador *Mr. Rodrigo Oreamuno White The Prize is named in reference to Manuel Maria de Peralta y Alfaro and the Foreign Service Institute "Manuel Maria de Peralta" the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peralta y Alfaro, Manuel 1847 births 1930 deaths People from Cartago Province Costa Rican politicians Ambassadors of Costa Rica to Germany Ambassadors of Costa Rica to the United States