Manuel Arzú

Manuel Arzú , with full name Manuel de Arzú y Delgado de Nájera (* 1775 in Xalapa ; † February 15, 1835 Guatemala ) was from October 10, 1824 to April 22, 1825 Supremo Director of the Nicaragua Province within the Central American Confederation .

Life

He was trained in Spain at the Colegio de Nobles in Madrid. He became an artillery colonel in the Spanish army. He let fight against the troops of Joseph Bonaparte in the kingdom of Castile and Catalonia . In 1810 he returned to Guatemala, where he received an office in the colonial administration. After the independence of New Spain in 1821 he was appointed by the government of the Central American Confederation as Supremo Director of the Province of Nicaragua. As such, he was exposed to attacks in the government seat in Leon (Nicaragua), against which he was successfully defended. In Leon, a painting of his was carried in a procession through the city every year out of gratitude. A custom that has since been discontinued.

In order to enforce the annexation to the Mexican empire under Agustín de Itúrbide , Guatemalan troops under the command of Manuel Arzú occupied Santa Ana (El Salvador), Sonsonate in April 1822. On June 3, 1822, Arzú entered San Salvador and reached the Plaza Major (now Plaza Libertad) which involved a nine-hour battle and many losses. The Guatemalan troops set fire to houses and looted before they left.

He founded the first military school in Guatemala City, the seat of government of the Central American Confederation. There he became Minister of Finance, War and Navy in the cabinet of Manuel José Arce y Fagoaga . Later he was commander in chief in the province of Guatemala.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ afehc, El coronel don Manuel Arzu, a la cabeza de la Columna Imperial ataca la plaza de San Salvador

predecessor	Office	successor
José Justo Milla Pineda Arriaga	Supremo Directores of the Province of Nicaragua October 10, 1824-22. April 1825	Manuel Antonio de la Cerda y Aguilar