CIUDAD DEL ESTE (National Holiday, by Editorial Office) This year, in order to make use of the holiday and the national holiday of May 14 and 15, the parade for the independence of our beloved Paraguay was brought forward, let us remember the historic night that has marked life of Paraguayans who to this day encourage young people to defend the homeland with heart and claws, to fight for the independence and sovereignty of what is today our Republic.
The initial plan called for a synchronized movement. In Itapúa Fulgencio Yegros would rise; in Corrientes, Blas José de Rojas; who would detach columns towards Asunción, which would be joined by Manuel Atanasio Cabañas in the Cordillera, entering the capital on May 25, the first anniversary of the Buenos Aires revolution. On April 24, 1811, Iturbe was called to give a statement, since the lawyer Juan de la Cruz Bargas revealed the existence of a conspiracy, making the authorities suspicious. Since Yegros’s trip to Asunción to take charge of the revolution could not fail to be noticed by Velasco, Caballero decided not to wait for it and to advance the coup at the risk of being arrested. On May 13, the Cabildo unanimously accepted the offer of entry into the Municipality of Paraguay of Portuguese troops, despite Velasco’s opposition. The governor’s adviser, Pedro Somellera, affirmed that he communicated to the main plotters the secret decision of the Cabildo, alarmed by the Portuguese danger. On the morning of May 14, Iturbe received notice from his relative, the council’s trustee, Juan Antonio Fernández, that Velasco was aware of his subversive meetings in the house of Juan Francisco Recalde, transmitting the news to Gentleman.
Before Abreu left on the 15th with the communication from the Cabildo, Caballero unexpectedly had the cathedral bells rang at 10:00 p.m. on the 14th, an agreed signal for the plotters to meet at the headquarters facing the plaza. Caballero and Iturbe advanced towards the barracks with 3 infantry and 3 artillery companies, being cleared by the commander of the guard, Captain Mauricio José Troche, managing to seize the artillery and weapons park without any resistance. The forces stationed in the barracks were: 106 soldiers under the command of Captain Juan José Vera, 34 militiamen from San Isidro de Curuguaty under the command of Troche, and a company of riflemen under the command of Cuestas. Caballero was recognized as commander of the barracks and part of the town began to gather around it. When the Cabrera plaza major returned to the barracks with 8 soldiers who were on a round, he was arrested by Iturbe. Velasco sent a priest to the barracks to find out what was happening, and then received an order from Iturbe to resign from the government, but Velasco refused, in addition to ordering him not to let the Portuguese envoys leave. A new proposal was made to him to admit two people as deputies in government offices until a provincial congress was held to determine the form of government, but the governor also rejected it.
As the governor did not give in, two cannons were available and patrols were sent to tour the surroundings, while more addicts were summoned to increase the forces, distributing weapons. On the morning of May 15, Velasco dismissed the plans of Lieutenant Colonel Gamarra to attack the barracks and accepted that two individuals be associated with him for the government office, the Creole Rodríguez de Francia and the Spanish Juan Valeriano de Zeballos. The new government would be provisional until the celebration of a provincial congress. Velasco’s advisor, Pedro Somellera from Buenos Aires, proposed sending a document to Buenos Aires recounting what had happened, a mission for which José de María was appointed, but when France arrived at the barracks he dissuaded Caballero from giving the Buenos Aires people joy. That same day, the provisional government was formed, headed by Velasco, who issued an edict prohibiting the movement of personnel from 9 at night. The change of government had been consummated without firing a single bullet.
One of the anecdotes of the Independence of Paraguay was the failed attempt of the Revolution a month before, on April 6. The conspirators were discovered and arrested, it is believed that because of traitors who betrayed the movement. But a month later the circumstances would change when a conspiring woman was found in the group of the Próceres of May. This is Juana María de Lara, who was the strategic link between the conspirators. She was in charge of reporting dates and places to schedule the revolutionary feat. She did not allow information to leak, much less reveal the emancipation plans of the Spanish crown. The Republic of Paraguay would be from then on totally independent, defending its lands and autonomy at all costs. And despite suffering heavy military blows such as the War of the Triple Alliance, it has maintained its sovereignty undaunted.
The main protagonists of the Independence of Paraguay were the following:
- José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia (1776-1840): Paraguayan politician, known as Doctor Francia. He was one of the deputies associated with the government of Bernardo de Velasco. Later he was a member of the Superior Government Board, then consul of the Republic and finally supreme dictator for 26 years.
- Fulgencio Yegros (1780-1821): Paraguayan military and politician. He is considered one of the fathers of the Nation. He participated in the battles of Paraguarí and Tacuarí. He was president of the Superior Governing Board.
- Antonio Tomás Yegros (1783-1864): Paraguayan politician who in the May Revolution of 1811 acted as a liaison between his brother Fulgencio, who was in Itapúa, and Pedro Juan Caballero, who resided in Asunción.
- Vicente Ignacio Iturbe (1785-1837): Paraguayan soldier and politician, who in the 1811 revolution was in charge of communication between the revolutionary headquarters and Governor Velasco.
- Pedro Juan Caballero (1786-1821): Paraguayan military and politician who stood out in the battles of Paraguarí and Tacuarí and who participated in the plot to overthrow Governor Velasco. Formed part of the Superior Governing Board.
- Mauricio José Troche (1790-1840): he played an outstanding role in the revolution of 1811 by controlling the barracks of Asunción with his 34 Uruguayans.