19 Facts About Aparicio Saravia

Aparicio Saravia da Rosa was a Uruguayan politician and military leader.

Aparicio Saravia was a member of the Uruguayan National Party and was a revolutionary leader against the Uruguayan government.

Aparicio Saravia was born in Cerro Largo, Uruguay, the fourth of thirteen children of Brazilians Francisco Saraiva and Pulpicia da Rosa.

Aparicio Saravia was raised and educated mostly in the countryside, but he had some higher education.

At his father's death, the Saravia brothers inherited a vast estate, Estancia El Cordobes, in the department of Cerro Largo, on the frontier with the Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul.

Since the borders between Brazil and Uruguay were not clearly delineated, the Aparicio Saravia brothers had very close ties to Rio Grande do Sul and its revolutionary movements.

Aparicio Saravia began his military activities at a very young age.

Aparicio Saravia is believed to have participated in the Revolution of the Lances, led by Timoteo Aparicio against the government of Lorenzo Batlle y Grau, the father of Jose Batlle y Ordonez, who would later be a political rival.

The Aparicio Saravia brothers led a force of 400 Uruguayan lancers who carried a banner that read Defensor da lei, which had been used by Manuel Oribe at the Battle of Carpinteria, which had led to the creation of the National Party.

Gumercindo Saraiva died in 1894, and Aparicio Saravia took over the revolutionary forces with the rank of General.

In 1895, Aparicio Saravia went to Montevideo as a representative of Cerro Largo, and in November 1896, Aparicio Saravia began agitating for revolution.

In March 1897, Aparicio Saravia led a revolutionary force against the Uruguayan government at the frontier with Brazil at Acegua, while Diego Lamas led another force from Argentina at Colonia and Jose Nunez led another at Conchillas.

Aparicio Saravia's forces were defeated at Cuchilla del Arbolito, in Cerro Largo department.

Aparicio Saravia served as an opposition leader in this time, and counted on the support of his own army.

Aparicio Saravia served as a de facto, second leader of the country, with Jose Batlle y Ordonez heading the government at Montevideo, and Saravia leading revolutionary forces in the countryside.

Aparicio Saravia agitated for revolution , but a civil war was avoided by a diplomatic mission, which resulted in a new pact signed at Nico Perez on March 22,1903.

Aparicio Saravia was fatally injured at this battle after charging at the head of his troops.

Aparicio Saravia was shot in the abdomen with a Mauser bullet; his companions managed to take him across the frontier to Brazil, to a ranch named Carovi near Santiago, Rio Grande do Sul.

Aparicio Saravia was buried at the burial vault of the Brazilian family of Pereira da Souza but in 1921 his remains were moved by Luis Alberto de Herrera to the cemetery of Buceo in Montevideo.