Juan Aldama

In Mexico there were many important figures who kept fighting for their rights and for peace. Undoubtedly, one of them was Juan Aldama , a member of a Creole family who dedicated himself to the military and who later decided to show his position against the injustices that were experienced at the time, mainly due to the imposition of the mercantile system. of the Spaniards who did not allow Mexico to carry out any type of trade with other places.

Biography of Juan Aldama

Juan Aldama was born on January 3, 1774 in San Miguel de Allende , Mexico . Member of a Creole family, from a young age he dedicated himself to the side of his brother to participate in the militia in the Spanish army and was even able to reach the position of captain of the Queen’s cavalry . He lived for a time at the home of José Ignacio Villaseñor Cervantes , who was his brother-in-law and thanks to this I can participate in different meetings.

Death

Juan Aldama died on June 26, 1811 and from that moment on he is celebrated as a hero of independence. After being tried for insubordination towards the Crown of Spain , he was sentenced to capital punishment for which he was shot . His remains rest in the Metropolitan Cathedral located in Mexico City.

What did Juan Aldama do

Juan Aldama was the one who, being against the mercantile system that existed in his country by the Spanish government and in his struggle to eliminate the enormous marginalization suffered by the Creoles, decided to rebel against the Spanish. He fought with all his might in the Valladolid conspiracy and also played a very important role in the secret meetings that were held in Querétaro and San Miguel . He also had an important participation in the battle of Monte de las Cruces and was one of the greatest fighters in the assault on Guanajuato .

Aldama also participated in the Masonic conspiracy that took place in Querétaro , an uprising that would generate a fight among the settlers against the viceroy, events that were finally fundamental pieces in the Mexican War of Independence . He was part of the taking of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas and was also able, together with other helpers, to sack Guanajuato .

He actively participated in the Grito de Dolores together with Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and Ignacio Allende , a fact that began the independence of his country.

Participation in the Independence of Mexico

While working for the Spanish militia, he began to visit different conspiracy meetings that had a common goal, to achieve Mexican independence, which were carried out by a Mexican insurgent, Josefa Domínguez in the city of Querétaro. In the middle of his travels, he was discovered so he had to move immediately to Dolores, where he met with Miguel Hidalgo and Ignacio Allende to be able to give them information on everything that was happening.

Aldama was in Dolores when, one morning on September 16, 1810 , the cry of insurrection began in search of independence. It was that same day that Hidalgo had initiated the incitement for the insurgents to rise up against Spain, a country that had held them under and following its laws for many years. At that moment, Juan Aldama began to take control of the situation and that is why he was seen as one of the most important figures of the independence period .

First he won the battle by taking the Alhóndiga de Granadita and later they went to Valladolid and then to Toluca de Lerdo . Aldama was appointed by the insurgents as Lieutenant Corones and thus became one of the main leaders of the battle. On October 30 they were overtaken by the Spanish, however, they managed to emerge victorious.

Contributions of Juan Aldama

His main contribution was in the general impulse to achieve the Independence of Mexico , despite being accused of being a traitor by the Spanish crown . He looked for means to eliminate the power of the crown in his country and thanks to the fact that he was part of the Spanish regiment , when the independence process began, he was able to transmit important information to the insurgents.

When the conspiracy planned for Querétaro was finally discovered, it was Aldama who was in charge of alerting Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla about the situation , with whom the important and symbolic Grito de Dolores could begin .

What study

Juan Aldama did not study in colleges or universities, but his great skill and intelligence made him occupy a military position in the cavalry of the Spanish militia in which he was captain .

Physical characteristics

There is no exact information on the characteristics of Juan Aldana, but many described him as a tall man , with black hair and eyes , he used to wear a mustache , his eyebrows were outlined as well as his nose .

Personality

Juan Aldama’s personality was always characterized by good leadership , charisma , intelligence and the power of learning that even led him to join the Spanish military. A great capacity for strategy , an untouchable and determined character , always eager to achieve the success of the country’s independence.

Parents

His father was Domingo Aldama and his mother was named María Gonzáles .

Relations

He was married to Luisa Acevedo who died in 1794. Later he remarried María Luisa Vallejo de Quevedo .

Sons

In his first marriage he had a daughter whom he named Sebastiana Aldama Acevedo . From his second marriage, three more children were born, María Petra , María Sebastiana and Ignacio .

Importance

Juan Aldama is of great importance for Mexicans thanks to his great participation in the insurgent camp during the period in which the process of independence from Mexico began. A man who always fought for his ideals of independence and against the tremendous Spanish yoke in his country. It was he who was in charge of informing the priest Hidalgo that they had been discovered and that is why he was able to anticipate their plans by finally carrying out the Grito de Dolores , a moment of great importance since it was the beginning of the war for Mexican independence .

Recognitions to Juan Aldama

In his honor, the city of León de los Aldama bears his name, the municipality located in Nuevo León also bears his name and that of his brother. On the outskirts of Culiacán you can also find a town with his name and in Baja California a street.

Phrases

Despite the fact that in the records of the Mexican country there is no list of phrases that were said by Juan Aldama, there is knowledge of only one, which said: Long live America !, Long live religion and die bad government !  This phrase is considered one of the most important that was said the day the Grito de Dolores exploded and was pronounced.

Curiosities

After a long time of friendship with the priest Hidalgo, Aldama broke his relations with him because the priest was very stubborn and did not follow his advice, many believe that if the father had listened to him, the story would have been very different. During his work in the Spanish militia he never sentenced his prisoners to death. After being captured and executed, they hung his head so that people would see it as a sign of obedience.