Bernardino Caballero

Bernardino Caballero de Añazco Melgarejo y Genes (20 May 1839, Ybycuí, Paraguay – 26 February 1912, Asunción) was a Paraguayan military officer and politician. He was a General during the Paraguayan War. He was installed as President of Paraguay after an 1880 coup, serving from September 1880 to November 1886. He was term limited from serving another consecutive term, so he guaranteed that he would be succeeded by his close friend Patricio Escobar. He participated in the Mato Grosso campaign. Later he became the assistant of President Francisco Solano López in Humaitá and remaining loyal, rose through the ranks. He became an increasingly important leader of rearguard actions, eventually becoming a cavalry general. Caballero was the greatest living war hero, who was captured by Brazilians on 8 April 1870 near the Apa River after the Battle of Cerro Corá and released in May 1871. During his arrest he became friendly with Brazilians and their political and military support was instrumental later, during his political career.

Post-war politics Caballero returned to Asunción and became involved in politics, joining the López loyalist faction led by Cándido Bareiro. He was one of the leaders of March and June 1873 revolts and January 1874 revolt against the politically powerful Benigno Ferreira who was forced to go into exile in February 1874. Because of his growing influence, Caballero was made Interior minister in the government of Salvador Jovellanos. In November 1874 Caballero was appointed Minister of Justice, Worship and Education under the new President Juan Bautista Gill. During his presidency much of the land previously owned by the state and the ruling López family was sold off in order to raise money.

Later political life Caballero rigged the 1886 Presidential election to ensure the victory of his close ally Patricio Escobar. In response, his political opponents founded the Liberal Party and two months later Caballero founded the ruling Colorado Party. From 1887 to 1904 as a former president he was also member of the Senate of Paraguay, and its president in 1894 and 1902.

Caballero maintained a large degree of control as he remained commander of the army and Colorado Party. His favored candidates controlled the country until 1894, when Juan Bautista Eguzquiza overthrew Juan Gualberto González. Caballero helped to organize another coup in 1902, putting Juan Antonio Escurra in power, but after Escurra's overthrow in the 1904 Revolution, the Liberals took power.

Caballero is buried in the National Pantheon of the Heroes, due to his wartime efforts and political significance. The Paraguayan town of General Bernardino Caballero is named after him.