Casto Fonseca
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León, Captaincy General of Guatemala
Casto Fonseca | |
|---|---|
| General Commander of Arms Nicaragua | |
| In office 6 April 1839 – 20 January 1845 | |
| Preceded by | Bernardo Méndez de Figueroa |
| Succeeded by | José Trinidad Muñoz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1800 León, Captaincy General of Guatemala |
| Died | 24 January 1845 (aged 44–45) León, Nicaragua |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Nicaragua (1834–1845) |
| Rank | Colonel (1834–1837) Grand Marshal (1839–1844) |
| Commands | Army of Nicaragua (1839–1845) |
Casto Fonseca (c. 1800 – 24 January 1845) was a Nicaraguan military figure who served as the de facto military leader of Nicaragua from 6 April 1839 to 20 January 1845, preceded by Bernardo Méndez de Figueroa and succeeded by José Trinidad Muñoz.[1]
Fonseca was a graduate in medicine and only had one son, Marcos Fonseca.[2]
Assassination of José Zepeda
On 25 January 1837 Fonseca and Méndez took the León barracks and took a man named Braulio Mendiola out of jail and commissioned him to arrest the head of state, José Zepeda, and officials of his government. Zepeda and some of his officials were killed, and later buried in the Cemetery of Guadalupe.[3] After his death, José Núñez assumed leadership. Núñez did not arrest the rebels, but rather appeased Méndez and appointed him General Commander of Arms, but Mendiola was captured and executed.[4]
Reestablishment of Military Absolutism
Méndez reestablished the military absolutism initiated by José Anacleto Ordóñez in 1823, even against the will of Núñez, who was at that point powerless to oppose. After Méndez's fall from power in 1839, Militarism would continue under Fonseca, who promoted himself to the highest rank of "Grand Marshal" and wore operetta garb.
He became the true arbiter of political life in Nicaragua, with the ability to even influence the elections of the supreme authorities of the State, which aroused the uncalmed traditional passionate hatreds.