Abstract

SALAS, Lía. Castelli and the project of a great Mother country. Rev. Fuent. Cong. [online]. 2014, vol.8, n.30, pp. 41-45. ISSN 1997-4485.

The article outlines a semblance of the political action of the patriot, Juan José Castelli, who was a member of the first local government, and then Representative of the First Government and head of the first expedition to Alto Peru. It also expresses his governmental action by propagating the May Revolution, establishing relationship with indigenous peoples and restablishing their civil rights. The article also expresses at the same time the drama of the strong historical demand, as per orders given by the Revolutionary Government of Buenos Aires, to energetically stifle the counterrevolution that intended to advance on Buenos Aires. All of these commands had been repeteadly resisted by Castelli's predecessors, but these commands had to be strictly accomplished, regardless if issued by Liniers, who had been the hero of the reconquest of Buenos Aires during the British Invasions. Castelli continues his march to the victory at Suipacha battle and subsequent beheading of the realistic army, responsible for the massacre committed by them at Chuquisaca and La Paz. This massacre enables liberation of Potosi, city which by then formed part of the Provinces of Rio de la Plata, allowing the patriotic army to advance on Alto Peru.The defeat of Huaqui, gives place to a tangled trial that starts from Buenos Aires, in the frame of growing political crises and changes of governments, suffering the consequences of Castelli's radicalized actions.

Keywords : Juan José Castelli; Argentine history; 19th Century; May Revolution.