19th June

Josè Gervasio Artigas

He was born in Montevideo, 19th June, 1764,  in his maternal grandparents` house.

Early childhood:
He lived his first years in colonial Montevideo, which was just founded. He attended the School of the Franciscan Fathers. At that time was studied: first letters, arithmetic, rhetoric and catechism. He was educated until he was 14 years old.
In the countryside:
From a very young man he visited the Carrasco farm and the estancia of Sauce. This fostered his taste for country life. He learned to use the horse, the bow, the bowlers, and observe the various uses that were given to the horse.
Youth:
At age 14 he moved away from the family nucleous and lived in different places of the countrysife, facing dangers like the hostility of the Indians, the gauchos and the wild animals. He worked in salads and smuggled hides in Brazil.
The military life:
In 1797 he entered as a soldier in the Blandengues Corps, an organization created in the Banda Oriental to solve problems such as theft, smuggling and clandestine operations. The first task that occurred was to suppress the smuggling of tobacco and gin that was made with Brazil.
When did he disengage from the Spanish authorities?
It was since 1811 that he offered its services to the Board of Buenos Aires and they committed to organize the fight in the Banda Oriental. He was convinced that Spain did not govern these territories well: there was a commercial monopoly, high taxes and lack of job opportunities. He decided to rebel against so many injustices.
The incorporation of Artigas:
He retired from the Spanish army and went to Buenos Aires to offer his military services to the Board. He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel and was given some aid to equate the eastern rebels.
Between 1811 and 1820:
José Artigas led the Eastern Revolution. Participated in: "La Batalla de las Piedras", "El Èxodo", "Estadìa en el Ayui", the Congress of Tres Cruces and the formation and organization of the Federal League.
Who opposed Artigas?
The chiefs of Santa Fe and Entre Ríos decided to reach an agreement with Buenos Aires. These chiefs did not commit themselves to fight against the Portuguese invaders.
The defeat and the exile in Paraguay:
In 1820, Artigas was defeated by Portuguese invaders. The lack of support from former allies and military defeated, obligued him to exile in Paraguay. The thirty years he lived in Paraguay made him a working man of the land and sedentary life. He passed away the 23rd of September of 1850