Diego de Aliaga

Diego de Aliaga Sotomayor y Santa Cruz (September 9, 1784 – November 4, 1825) was a Peruvian politician and aristocrat who served as the first Vice President of Peru, from 1823 to 1824, under the presidency of José Bernardo de Tagle y Portocarrero, Marquis of Torre Tagle, appointed by the Peruvian Congress.

Early life

Aliaga was born on September 9, 1784, in Lima, Peru the son of Sebastian de Aliaga y Colmenares, 6th Marquis of Zelada de la Fuente, and Mercedes de Santa Cruz y Querejazu, 4th Countess of San Juan de Lurigancho. The de Aliaga family was one of the most ancient Spanish families established in Peru as its members were direct descendants of Conquistador Jerónimo de Aliaga.

He began his career as a lieutenant of the regiment of the nobility. In 1810, Viceroy Fernando de Abascal promoted him to Captain of the Guard of Halberdiers and Archers of the Palace of the Viceroy, a post he also occupied under Joaquín de la Pezuela until 1816.

He married the controversial Clara de Buendía y Carrillo de Albornoz, daughter and heiress to the Marquis of Castellón. Buendía was known for being processed by the Inquisition in 1819 and for being remarried twice under suspicious circumstances.

Politics

At the same time, de Aliaga involved himself in commerce and communicated with conspirators who wanted to overthrow the Spanish monarchy from Peru. Gradually his interest for independence began to wane. But when José de San Martín declared Peru an independent state, he became active in the newly independent Peru. He became vice-president of the republic in 1823.

When Royalist forces invaded Peru, he and the president left their jobs and handed dictatorial power to Simon Bolivar. But then he and the president reached a backroom deal with the royalists, who failed to re-capture Peru.

Death

Fearing reprisals of Simon Bolivar, he and the president took refuge in the Real Felipe Fortress, Callao, where he died in 1825. After his death, he was exonerated of treason charges but his assets were taken away.