José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco

José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco (17661840) was the dictator of Paraguay. He helped Paraguay become independent from Spain. Paraguay became independent from Spain in 1811. Francia y Velasco reigned from 1814 until his death in 1840.

Francia y Velasco believed that Paraquay should be self-sufficient. During his reign, almost no goods were imported, and only yerba mate was exported. Leaves and twigs of this herb,  Ilex paraguariensis, are the basis of the drink called "mate".

 Further reading 
(An annotated publication of the archived collection of Francia's writings, the Colección Doroteo Bareiro, held by the "Archivo Nacional de Asuncion"):


 Other websites 
 Brief biography of Rodriguez de Francia
 "Paraguay: The Rise of José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia"
 "Archivo Nacional de Asuncion"
 John Hoyt Williams, 'Paraguayan Isolation under Dr Francia: A Reevaluation' The Hispanic American Historical Review, volume 52, issue 1, Feb 1972 pp 102–22

Category:1766 births
Category:1840 deaths
Category:Former dictators
Category:Paraguayan politicians