Ildefonso Sanjinés
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Tomás Frías
Tomás Frías
Ildefonso Sanjinés | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of War | |
| In office 22 October 1871 – 9 May 1873 | |
| President | Agustín Morales Tomás Frías |
| Preceded by | Narciso Campero |
| Succeeded by | Mariano Ballivián |
| In office 16 January 1874 – 13 May 1874 | |
| President | Adolfo Ballivián Tomás Frías |
| Preceded by | Mariano Ballivián |
| Succeeded by | Hilarión Daza |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 12, 1812 |
| Died | December 2, 1882 Cochabamba, Bolivia |
| Spouse | María Casta Quiroga Nava y Guzmán |
| Children | Casta Sanjinés Quiroga Justa Sanjinés Quiroga René Sanjinés Quiroga Adelina Sanjinés Quiroga Guillermo Sanjinés Quiroga Josefa Sanjinés Quiroga |
| Parent(s) | José Mariano Calderón de la Barca Sanjinés Petrona de Rada |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Bolivia |
| Branch/service | Bolivian Army |
| Rank | Division general |
| Battles/wars | War of the Confederation Peruvian-Bolivian War of 1841-1842 |
Ildefonso Sanjinés Rada (12 June 1812 – 2 December 1882) was a Bolivian military officer who served as Minister of War twice during the presidencies of Agustín Morales, Tomás Frías, and Adolfo Ballivián. Sanjinés served during the War of the Confederation and the Peruvian-Bolivian War of 1841-1842, fighting valiantly during the Battle of Ingavi.
He was born in the city of La Paz in 1812, the son of José Mariano Calderón de la Barca Sanjinés and Petrona de Rada. He entered the army as a cadet in the 10th battalion of the Guardia at the age of fourteen. In December 1831, he was promoted to second lieutenant and took part in almost all the battles of the War of the Confederation.[1][2]
Military career
At the battle of Yanacocha, he fought heroically at the head of a company, earning him the rank of captain. Having been a part of the battles of Socabaya, Iruya, and Montenegro, he eventually reached the rank of lieutenant colonel. However, where Sanjinés demonstrated his talents as a leader was at the Battle of Ingavi where he led the 7th battalion.[3]
During Ingavi, Sanjinés was stationed with the reserve together with lieutenant colonel Manuel Isidoro Belzu. In those times, the battalions in the reserve were often considered to the best in an army and, therefore, the most trusted. This was a distinction which was considered to reflect the capacity of an officer to lead his company. During the beginning of the battle, it is said that the rest of the army bet which of the two battalions, Belzu's or Sanjinés', would advance further into the enemy camp and would fight with more courage.[3][4]
The Battle of Ingavi resulted in a crushing defeat for the Peruvians, as they had also lost their commander and President, Agustín Gamarra. It is said that at the end of the battle Belzu and Sanjinés hugged each other for a long time and, in silence, congratulated each other for the brilliant triumph they had obtained. Both were promoted on the battlefield to the rank of colonel, and, in 1846, Congress promoted Sanjinés to the rank of brigadier general.[5][6]
