José Miguel Carrera
José Miguel Carrera Verdugo (; October 15, 1785 – September 4, 1821) was a Chilean general, formerly Spanish military, member of the prominent
Carrera family, and considered one of the founders of independent Chile. Carrera was the most important leader of the
Chilean War of Independence during the period of the
Patria Vieja ("Old Republic"). After the Spanish
''"Reconquista de Chile"'' ("Reconquest"), he continued campaigning from exile after defeat. His opposition to the leaders of independent Argentina and Chile,
San Martín and
O'Higgins respectively, made him live in exile in
Montevideo. From Montevideo Carrera traveled to Argentina where he joined the struggle against the
unitarians. Carreras' small army was eventually left isolated in the
Province of Buenos Aires from the other
federalist forces. In this difficult situation Carrera decided to cross to native-controlled lands all the way to Chile to once and for all overthrow Chilean Supreme Director O'Higgins. His passage to Chile, which was his ultimate goal, was opposed by Argentine politicians and he engaged together with indigenous tribes, among them the
Ranquel, in a campaign against the southern provinces of Argentina. After the downfall of Carrera's ally, the
Republic of Entre Ríos, and several victories against the
United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, Carrera's men were finally defeated by numerically superior forces near
Mendoza. Carrera was then betrayed by one of his Argentine helpers, leading to his capture and execution in that city.
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