Because I’m a complete nerd for the Revolutionary period in Argentinean history and the importance of Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano y González (Manuel Belgrano to make it shorter) has been systematically disregarded and downplayed in history, I decided to make this list of his badassery [w/o dates because I am the worst with that. also anyone feel free to contribute]:
While in college in Spain managed to get hold of books which would have got his ass thrown in jail if ever discovered in his possession, (i.e: Rosseau’s Social Contract).
Realised while working in customs in Buenos Aires that the numbers were being altered, and that the Spanish were stealing money that was meant to stay in the Virreinato.
Told British soldiers when they seized control of Buenos Aires Cabildo during the British invasion, “We want the old master or none at all” (was the only politician who refused to swear the oath to England).
He was the one who was meant to signal French and Berutti that 25th of May of 1810 if the Cabildo refused to depose the viceroy, so they could storm inside and just… you know, lit everything on fire.
Along with Juan José Castelli and Mariano Moreno developed the idea to install a constitutional monarchy after the independence was achieved, giving the crown to a son of Incas.
Fought actively to abolish slavery, and advocated for the rights of natives and afro-argentineans, practically on his own after Castelli died and Moreno was murdered by his political opponents.
Managed to lead an army although he had no formal military instruction, by sheer force of will and reading book after book after book, and also using his guts.
Issued a law on Tacuarí that read “Every natural (native) in Misiones is free, have the right to land and will be able to dispose of it as they see fit.” Every single former “master” that dare to go against the issued law was to be executed.
Disobeyed Buenos Aires’ orders when he considered them utterly nonsensical didn’t agree. Basically his relationship with Buenos Aires head of government can be summed up in #yolo
BA: You can’t create a flag like wtf the cover is that we are fighting for the king while Napoleon is in Spain.
Belgrano: *creates flag* *makes the troops swear an oath*
BA: Retreat to Córdoba and wait for orders, make only the essential for Spanish troops to be stopped, like who cares???
Belgrano: *destroy and burns everything down* *makes a whole city follow him*
BA: We have no money to send the troops, no food, no reinforcements, no anything.
Belgrano: *uses his own money to buy food and pay the salaries of his men* *donates his salary and earnings to build schools and educate the people*
After María Remedios del Valle (a slave that’d joined the troops as a nurse to gain her freedom after the war) blatantly and bravely disobeyed his direct orders of not crossing behind enemy lines to bring back wounded soldiers to the safety of the camp, he made her captain of the revolutionary army.
Fought alongside Juana Azurduy and her Guerreras del Sol. He also had set up a system of spies made up of women, who would give the army the intelligence they needed on the Spanish forces and their movements.
Donated his salaries for the creation of bilingual schools, some of which weren’t constructed until the XXI century because Bs As stole the money.
Suffered from a handful of chronic illnesses that worsened throughout time, like dyspepsia, rheumatism, malaria and syphilis, but didn’t let them stop him from conducting an army and even travelling to Europe to keep working for the independence cause after he gave the command of his army to San Martín.
Said f*** you to gender norms of the time because he absolutely loved the color green and he didn’t give a flying f*** that it was supposed to be a color to be worn by women.
Died in poverty and forgotten by everyone in 1820. His sister Juana and Joseph Redhead, a Scottish physician who had defected the Royal Navy, his doctor and long-time friend since the revolution, was with him when he passed away. The only thing of value Belgrano had left to pay Redhead was his watch.