Bernabé Aráoz Bernabé Aráoz ( 1776 – 24 March 1824 ) was a governor of Tucumán Province in what is now Argentina during the early nineteenth century , and President of the short - lived Republic of Tucumán . Aráoz came from a wealthy and influential family in the northern province of Tucumán in the Spanish Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata , and was a leader of the local militia . In 1810 he supported the May Revolution in which the leaders in Buenos Aires declared independence from the Napoleonic regime in Spain . He played a decisive role in the crucial Battle of Tucumán fought in 1812 against the royalists , and was made governor of his province . The political situation became confused by a violent dispute between the Unitarian and Federalist parties . The Unitarians wanted a centralized form of government while the Federalists , with whom Aráoz sided , wanted greater local autonomy . The conflict degenerated into chaotic factional fighting at the same time as the struggle for independence . During a period when the central government had broken down , Aráoz declared that his province was a republic with himself as President . The next year he was deposed , but later came back as governor for another term . He was deposed again , forced into exile , arrested , brought back and executed without trial by a firing squad . Background . Bernabé Aráoz was born in Monteros , Tucumán Province , in 1776 . His family was one of the most influential and wealthy in San Miguel de Tucumán . He was one of six children of Juan Antonio Aráoz de La Madrid and Josefa de Córdoba Gutiérrez . Bernabé Aráoz was closely related to the statesman and priest Pedro Miguel Aráoz , who represented Tucumán at the 1816 Congress of Tucumán in which the delegates declared the independence of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata ( today called Argentina ) . Pedro Miguel Aráoz later helped Bernabé Araoz in forming the Republic of Tucumán . General Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid was his first cousin . In 1803 Aráoz was leader of the new " Disciplined Cavalry Militia Regiment of Tucumán Volunteers " . In 1805 he married Teresa Velarde , and they would have seven children . He supported the May Revolution in Buenos Aires in 1810 without hesitation . In this movement the local leaders rejected the authority of the Spanish government after Napoleon had installed his brother Joseph Bonaparte as king . At first , the leaders professed loyalty to the deposed king Ferdinand VII of Spain of Spain . Later the movement would evolve into a fight for outright independence . In 1810 Aráoz was elected Mayor of the Cabildo on the second vote . Aráoz raised regular militiamen on behalf of the junta , making an important contribution to the roughly 3 , 000 soldiers stationed in the northern center of Tucumán . In August 1812 General Manuel Belgrano had been ordered to retreat from the Spanish to a strong position at Córdoba , abandoning places such as Tucumán that lay further to the north . He sent Juan Ramón Balcarce to Tucumán with a request for money and 1 , 000 men . The people of Tucumán sent a delegation to Balcarce including Bernabé Aráoz , Rudecindo Alvarado and Pedro Miguel Aráoz that offered the money and 2 , 000 men if Belgrano would defend the town . Belgrano accepted , and this led to the Battle of Tucumán ( 24 – 25 September 1812 ) in which Belgrano defeated the Spanish forces . Bernabé Aráoz fought in this battle on the right wing as a subordinate to Balcarce . The support that Aráoz gave with his militia was decisive . Governor of Tucumán Province . On 4 April 1814 , Bernabé Aráoz was made governor of the Province of Salta del Tucumán . On 8 October 1814 Gervasio Antonio de Posadas , the Supreme Director , divided the province into Salta Province and Tucumán Province . Tucumán Province included the former municipality of the same name and the adjoining municipalities of Catamarca and Santiago del Estero . Aráoz was designated governor of Tucumán Province . On 4 September 1815 , separatists in Santiago del Estero led by Francisco Borges launched a first bid for independence , but Aráoz suppressed the movement . After its disastrous defeat at the Battle of Sipe - Sipe ( 29 November 1815 ) the central government could provide little support to the northern provinces of Salta and Tucumán , which largely had to look after their own defense . In 1816 Ferdinand VII was declared " absolute King " of Spain . Aráoz hosted the Congress of Tucumán , in which delegates from all the provinces met , and on 9 July 1816 declared full independence of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata from Spain . Many of the delegates were sympathetic to the monarchy , but in the end support for a republic prevailed . The struggle between those wanting strong central control and those favoring a looser federation would continue for many years . Araoz arranged accommodations and meeting places for the deputies . He even provided the table on which the declaration was signed , and this later was held as a prize possession by his family . On 10 December 1816 Francisco Borges launched a second separatist movement in Santiago del Estero . General Belgrano suppressed the uprising and Borges was shot on 1 January 1817 . Aráoz fell out with Belgrano , and in September 1817 he was replaced by Feliciano de la Mota Botello , from Catamarca . For the next two years Aráoz stayed out of politics . In November 1819 Feliciano de la Mota was deposed by Abraham González while General Belgrano was staying in Tucumán . Belgrano was also arrested , and was held until Bernabé Aráoz took control of the government of Tucumán three days later . President of the Republic of Tucumán . After the Battle of Cepeda on 1 February 1820 the central government was dissolved . Aráoz declared the Republic of Tucumán , made up of Tucumán , Catamarca and Santiago del Estero . In March 1820 he received an urgent request for assistance from General José de San Martín , commander of the armies fighting the Spanish . He replied that he was sending 500 men , well - supplied with arms and ammunition . A Congress of leading men was assembled , and on 6 September 1820 the Congress sanctioned the Republic ' s constitution . A First Court of Justice was established . Aráoz was named Supreme President . The constitution set up a unicameral legislature and an executive branch headed by the President . It was influenced by the national constitution of 1819 and was unitarian and centralized in nature . The provinces of Catamarca and Santiago del Estero both quickly moved towards separation . Aráoz sent Juan Bautista Paz to Santiago del Estero to arrange for election of deputies , with a military force led by Juan Francisco Echauri . One of Echauri ' s first actions was to change the members of the municipality to one in favor of Tucumán . Next he tried to control the election of deputies for the Congress that would meet on 20 March 1820 in Tucumán . The people of Santiago del Estero rebelled , supported by armed forces led by Juan Felipe Ibarra , who defeated Echauri in an engagement on 31 March 1820 and forced him to retreat to Tucumán . Ibarra was appointed the first governor of the province of Santiago del Estero , and on 27 April 1820 issued a manifesto that declared the province ' s autonomy . Political turmoil . There was growing animosity between Bernabé Aráoz and the governor of Salta Province , Martín Miguel de Güemes . Güemes took the side of Santiago del Estero , invaded the Republic of Tucumán and captured Catamarca , ousting Bernabé Aráoz ' s relative , Lieutenant Governor Juan José de la Madrid , in March 1821 . However , Güemes suffered a series of defeats and then was forced to return to Salta Province since the royalists had taken the opportunity to invade Jujuy . Aráoz invaded Salta , defeated Güemes on 3 April 1821 and temporarily deposed him , although Güemes quickly regained power . Soon after returning to the town of Salta , Güemes was assassinated , dying on 17 June 1821 . After his death , an aristocratic group with strong ties to Buenos Aires took power . Eventually peace was settled between Tucumán and Santiago del Estero with a treaty of 5 June 1821 . On 28 November 1821 Aráoz was ousted from office by General Abraham González , who had helped him assume power in November 1819 . The government of the province of Tucumán descended into chaos for the next year with endless coups and counter - coups . Colonel Diego Aráoz , a distant relative of Bernabé Aráoz , General Javier López and Bernabé Aráoz engaged in a three - way struggle for power . Bernabé Aráoz briefly held office twice during this period . In October 1822 he became governor yet again , this time holding office for almost a year , and managed to stabilize the situation . He was forced from office by Diego Aráoz in August 1823 and took refuge in Salta . In February 1824 the head of the provincial forces , Javier López , was appointed governor . The government of Salta withdrew asylum from Aráoz and escorted him to the Tucumán border . Death . Aráoz was arrested by Tucumán forces on 7 March 1824 at the border in Trancas , held there and executed on 24 March 1824 . The colonel who ordered the execution said he had been trying to subvert the men . It is said that his final act before facing the firing squad was to smoke a cigarette . Knocking away the last ashes , he said philosophically " Human existence is like these ashes . " He then calmly faced his death . His remains lie in the Trancas church to the right of the altar . His portrait by the Italian artist Honorio Mossi hangs in the " Museo Casa Histórica de la Independencia " in San Miguel de Tucumán . After the Battle of Tucumán , General José de San Martín wrote of him that he doubted that there were ten men in the Americas who united so many virtues . Belgrano said he could not find high enough praise for men of Aráoz ' s command . General José María Paz knew Aráoz well . He said he did not know of anyone seeing him angry ; he was always cool and unflappable . His manner and way of speaking was more suitable to a monk than a soldier . He made many promises , but was always careful to keep his word . He wanted only to rule , and if he deserves the name " caudillo " , it was as a mild " caudillo " with no inclination to cruelty . References . Notes Citations Sources