JSanMartin
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Yet the questions remain.Why did he resign his commission in the Spanish army and take up the struggle for South American independence?
History books for schoolchildren stress José de San Martín's love of country and patriotism. They praise his desire to liberate his country. However, San Martín went to Spain at the age of six, spent his formative years there, and gave twenty plus years of his life in service to the Spanish crown. He received honors, decorations and promotions for his service.
Speculation is that while he was held as a prisoner by the British, he began to doubt, or was encouraged to doubt, the rightness of the Spanish royalty. But Britain was also a monarchy. Another possibility was British economic gain if South America was open to trade. He became a Mason in Banff, Scotland, due to the influence of James Duff, 4th Earl of Fife, who had fought in Spain.
Other possibilities cited are San Martín's growing dislike of the inequalities of Spanish aristocracy and his possible ill-treatment for having Guaraní parentage. Others believe he went to London and then to Argentina as an agent for the British.
Why did he alienate other leaders and supporters of the cause for independence with his insistence on a liberal monarchy rather than a republican dictatorship?
If San Martín was so disdainful of the Spanish monarchy, why did he wish to institute another form of monarchy in South America? Was it because he wasn't disdainful and was supported by Britain and other European countries interested in investments and ecomic influences? It is a fact that as Spanish and Portuguese influence declined, Europeans rushed in to establish trade, mining, agricultural and even the possibility of establishing a United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata with the unemployed poor from England and Ireland. Welsh colonists settled in Chubut province of Argentina.
Why happened during that meeting with Simón Bolívar?
The agreed to meet on equal terms, as military leaders who had already accomplished much and who had only to agree on further action.
San Martín wrote to friends in later years saying that he realized that with the way Bolívar felt about him, he could accomplish nothing. Historians speculate that to save his vision, and to see South America liberated, he renounced his involvement. They also speculate that Bolívar, being ambitious and wanting to enlarge his annexations of the northern regions of South America, refused to help oust the Spanish from Peru as long as San Martín was involved.
The details of the meeting are unknown, but what is known is that San Martín left Guayaquil on very unequal terms.
Why did he give everything up, retire from public life and go into voluntary exile?
San Martín could have gathered his forces, gathered more recruits and continued the battle for Peru on his own. With no supplies coming from Spain, it was only a matter of time until the royalist forces would be depleted. However, San Martín had lost support from Buenos Aires, his friend and ally, Bernardo O'Higgins had his own problems, a liberal faction in Peru wanted greater freedoms, including some astonishing freedoms for the clergy, always a conservative bastion and supported of the Spanish monarchy. His affair with a Peruvian woman was widely criticized.
In his early forties, he had accomplished a great deal, liberated two countries and was the Protector of Peru. San Martín was in ill-health. Perhaps he though he could retire to regain his strength, then return to complete the task. Perhaps when he returned to his small farm in Argentina, he saw how little support he had and lost hope.
Perhaps he saw the writing on the wall. For all the dashing glory of ousting the Spanish royalists, the new Latin American countries were economically weak. They had internal problems between the classes, fundamental issues with education, land reform, transportation and industrial development. The governments were unstable. Perhaps San Martín foresaw the anarchy that would develop in the coming decades and wanted no part of it. Yet, it is ironic that he willed his sword to Juan Miguel de Rosas who ruled Argentina as a bloody tyrant from 1835-1852.
And why did he settle in France, after having fought against Napoleon?
He could not return to Spain after all his efforts in South America. If he had been an agent for Britain, he had not succeeded in all his activities. Napoleon was vanquished and a new monarchy in place. San Martín spoke fluent French and when given a small farm in France, had the means to raise his daughter.
These questions are still unanswered. Whatever his personal motivations, José de San Martín was the military tactician who helped liberate three countries. He is honored and revered as Knight of the Andes, Santo de la Espada: Argentina's greatest hero.
Yet the questions remain.
History books for schoolchildren stress José de San Martín's love of country and patriotism. They praise his desire to liberate his country. However, San Martín went to Spain at the age of six, spent his formative years there, and gave twenty plus years of his life in service to the Spanish crown. He received honors, decorations and promotions for his service.
Speculation is that while he was held as a prisoner by the British, he began to doubt, or was encouraged to doubt, the rightness of the Spanish royalty. But Britain was also a monarchy. Another possibility was British economic gain if South America was open to trade. He became a Mason in Banff, Scotland, due to the influence of James Duff, 4th Earl of Fife, who had fought in Spain.
Other possibilities cited are San Martín's growing dislike of the inequalities of Spanish aristocracy and his possible ill-treatment for having Guaraní parentage. Others believe he went to London and then to Argentina as an agent for the British.
If San Martín was so disdainful of the Spanish monarchy, why did he wish to institute another form of monarchy in South America? Was it because he wasn't disdainful and was supported by Britain and other European countries interested in investments and ecomic influences? It is a fact that as Spanish and Portuguese influence declined, Europeans rushed in to establish trade, mining, agricultural and even the possibility of establishing a United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata with the unemployed poor from England and Ireland. Welsh colonists settled in Chubut province of Argentina.
The agreed to meet on equal terms, as military leaders who had already accomplished much and who had only to agree on further action.
San Martín wrote to friends in later years saying that he realized that with the way Bolívar felt about him, he could accomplish nothing. Historians speculate that to save his vision, and to see South America liberated, he renounced his involvement. They also speculate that Bolívar, being ambitious and wanting to enlarge his annexations of the northern regions of South America, refused to help oust the Spanish from Peru as long as San Martín was involved.
The details of the meeting are unknown, but what is known is that San Martín left Guayaquil on very unequal terms.
San Martín could have gathered his forces, gathered more recruits and continued the battle for Peru on his own. With no supplies coming from Spain, it was only a matter of time until the royalist forces would be depleted. However, San Martín had lost support from Buenos Aires, his friend and ally, Bernardo O'Higgins had his own problems, a liberal faction in Peru wanted greater freedoms, including some astonishing freedoms for the clergy, always a conservative bastion and supported of the Spanish monarchy. His affair with a Peruvian woman was widely criticized.
In his early forties, he had accomplished a great deal, liberated two countries and was the Protector of Peru. San Martín was in ill-health. Perhaps he though he could retire to regain his strength, then return to complete the task. Perhaps when he returned to his small farm in Argentina, he saw how little support he had and lost hope.
Perhaps he saw the writing on the wall. For all the dashing glory of ousting the Spanish royalists, the new Latin American countries were economically weak. They had internal problems between the classes, fundamental issues with education, land reform, transportation and industrial development. The governments were unstable. Perhaps San Martín foresaw the anarchy that would develop in the coming decades and wanted no part of it. Yet, it is ironic that he willed his sword to Juan Miguel de Rosas who ruled Argentina as a bloody tyrant from 1835-1852.
He could not return to Spain after all his efforts in South America. If he had been an agent for Britain, he had not succeeded in all his activities. Napoleon was vanquished and a new monarchy in place. San Martín spoke fluent French and when given a small farm in France, had the means to raise his daughter.
These questions are still unanswered. Whatever his personal motivations, José de San Martín was the military tactician who helped liberate three countries. He is honored and revered as Knight of the Andes, Santo de la Espada: Argentina's greatest hero.
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