Ramón Castilla

Infobox Officeholder
name = Ramón Castilla y Marquesado
nationality = Peruvian

|300px
order = Interim President of Peru
order2 = 12th President of Peru
order3 = 14th President of Peru
order4 = Interim President of Peru
term_start = February 17, 1844
term_end = August 10, 1844
term_start2 = April 20, 1845
term_end2 = April 20, 1851
term_start3 = January 5, 1855
term_end3 = October 24, 1862
term_start4 = April 3, 1863
term_end4 = April 9, 1863
predecessor = Domingo Nieto
predecessor2 = Manuel Menéndez
predecessor3 = José Rufino Echenique
predecessor4 = Miguel de San Román
successor = Domingo Elías
successor2 = José Rufino Echenique
successor3 = Miguel de San Román
successor4 = Pedro Diez Canseco
birth_date = birth date|1797|8|31|mf=y
birth_place = Tarapacá, Peru
death_date = death date and age|1867|5|30|1797|8|31|mf=y
death_place = Tarapacá, Peru
profession = Soldier
spouse = Francisca Diez Canseco|

Ramón Castilla y Marquesado (Tarapacá, 31 August 1797 – Tiviliche, 25 May 1867) was a Peruvian "caudillo" and President of Peru four times. His earliest prominent appearance in Peruvian history began with his participation in a commanding role of the army of the Libertadores that helped Peru become an independent nation. Later, he led the country when the economy boomed due to the exploitation of guano deposits. Castilla's government abolished slavery and modernized the state.

He assumed the presidency for the first time after general Domingo Nieto's death for a short period in 1844, then in 1845 until 1851, again from 1855 to 1862 and, finally, during a brief period in 1863.

First years

Born in Tarapacá (then part of the Viceroyalty of Peru), the second son of Pedro Castilla, of Argentine origin, and Juana Marquezado de Romero. In 1807 he traveled to Lima at the age of 10 to study with his brother and later continued his education in Concepción, Chile, also helping his brother with his business. In 1817 he enrolled in the Spanish colonial army during Peru's War of Independence, fighting against the independence forces sent by Argentine general José de San Martín

Castilla became a prisoner of war, but managed to escape and returned to Peru in 1821, deserting the Spanish Army and offering his services to José de San Martín, who enrolled him in the Patriot Army with the rank of lieutenant (a rank he had held with the Spanish Army). When San Martin resigned as "Protector of Peru", Castilla sided with José de la Riva Agüero, who in turn shortly became president in 1823.

In 1824, when the Peruvian Congress named Simón Bolívar dictator or "Liberator of Peru", Castilla joined Bolivar's army, fighting in the decisive Battle of Ayacucho, which helped Peru gain its independence from Spain.In 1825 he was named governor of his native province of Tarapacá. In 1833, Castilla married Francisca Diez Canseco.

Anarchy: Castilla and Nieto

In 1839 Castilla was named Minister of War and Minister of Finance under Agustín Gamarra. Under the latter post, Castilla was responsible for Peru's first lucrative guano exportation. Meanwhile, president Gamarra had been harboring intentions of annexing Bolivia back to Peru and, in 1841, he led an invasion army to Bolivia, only to be defeated and killed by the army of José Ballivián during the Battle of Ingavi, leaving Peru without a leader. During that year various infights among caudillos occurred who constantly proclaimed themselves Presidents. Manuel Menéndez, then Vice President, assumed the presidency, but was overthrown by a coup d'état led by Juan Crisóstomo Torrico in 1842.

Soon after, Castilla, along with Domingo Nieto, overthrew Manuel Ignacio de Vivanco during the Battle of Carmen Alto. Nieto assumed the presidency but died a few months later. Castilla assumes the position on February 17, 1844 until December 11 of that year. After defeating the other caudillos around the country, Castilla reinstated Menéndez as President, in order to achieve a constitutional transition to democracy.

President of the Republic

In 1845, Castilla won the Peruvian presidential elections and was sworn in April of that year. During this time the guano export boom was rapidly expanding, largely due to treaties signed with the British company Anthony Gibbs, which had commercialized the guano in Europe. Important urban projects were also begun under this period, such as the first railroad from Lima to Callao, which helped in the transportation of the guano from the production centers ready to be shipped abroad.

After six years in power, Castilla was succeeded by José Rufino Echenique. In 1854, however, another rebellion was led in Peru's second-largest city, Arequipa, by Castilla himself, who was largely urged by other Peruvian liberals to help in the suppression of slavery in the country.

On December 3, 1854, in the city of Huancayo, an abolition of slavery law was passed. As this law was being applied, Castilla confronted and defeated Echenique in the Battle of La Palma on January 5, 1855.

In 1859, Peru had a confrontation with neighboring Ecuador over disputed territory bordering the Amazon. Though Peru was considered successful, Castilla failed to secure a definitive agreement with Ecuador and the issue would haunt both countries until the end of the 20th century when the 1997 Peace and Border Treaty of Itamaraty was signed by Peru and Ecuador in Brazil. In December 1860 a new constitution was enacted during Castilla's presidency and became Peru's supreme law until 1920. Castilla's second presidency, therefore, was marked by the liberation of slaves and indigenous Peruvians, as well as a new postal system and a new constitution.

In 1862 he was succeeded by Miguel de San Román, who died less than a year later, prompting Castilla to claim the presidency and refused to recognise Pedro Diez Canseco, the Second Vice President of the Republic. Diez Canseco, however, was chosen as interim president from April to August 1863, and was succeeded by Juan Antonio Pezet.

In 1864 Castilla condemned the international policies of Pezet, only to be jailed and exiled to Gibraltar. During his absence the historic Battle of Callao took place, which became Spain's final and unsuccessful move to reconquer independent Peru.

After he returned to Peru, he was again deported to Chile on the orders of then president Mariano Ignacio Prado. In a last effort to regain power for a fifth time, Castilla – now nearly seventy – and a group of followers landed in Pisagua and proceeded towards the Tiviliche desert. This last try, however, proved fatal and Castilla died in his final attempt to pass through southern Peru on May 30, 1867.

ee also

* Politics of Peru
* List of Presidents of Peru

References