Diego de los Ríos

Diego de los Ríos y Nicolau (9 April 1850 – 4 November 1911) was a Spanish Lieutenant General who was known as the last Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. He also served in the Glorious Revolution, the Third Carlist War and the Ten Years' War.

Military career Diego was born on 9 April 1850 as the son of Lieutenant General Diego de los Rios the Elder and was given the title "Underage ensign of the Cavalry" in 1860 due to his fathers service in the Hispano-Moroccan War. In the same year, he specialized in infantry combat and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1865. In 1868, he participated in the Glorious Revolution and was promoted to Captain for his service in the revolution. For the next three years, he served in Puerto Rico. When he returned to the Spanish mainland, he participated in the Third Carlist War but was seriously wounded during the Battle of Castellfullit in July 1874 when he was promoted to Commander. After the treatment of his wound, he continued to fight the Carlist forces in the north, taking part in the battles of Sierra de Puyarruego, Ermita de la Trinidad de Lumbier and Sierra de Leire.

He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 1876 but had to then serve in the ongoing Ten Years' War. Once he arrived in Cuba, he was in charge of several operations as he commanded several battalions until the Pact of Zanjón was signed and he returned to Spain to marry Matilde Sáenz Santa María. There he would serve various posts, including becoming King Alfonso XII's aide-de-camp in 1886, commanding the Ciudad Rodrigo Battalion in Madrid and dealing with the uprising of the Garellano and Albuera regiments on September 19 as he left with his unit under the orders of Captain General Manuel Pavía in pursuit of the rebels along the Paseo de Atocha, Vallecas, Morata de Tajuña and Arganda. For his service, he was proposed to the Ministry of State for the Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. After his promotion to Brigadier General on 1895, he was sent to the Philippines under the command of Ramón Blanco who appointed him the commander of the First Brigade of the Mindanao Division.

He left Iloilo and transferred temporarily to Real Fuerza de Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar de Zaragoza in Zamboanga bringing with him the remnants of his colonial forces in the Visayas on the eve of the surrender of the Spanish forces in Visayas to the Ilonggo revolutionaries on December 24, 1898. Thereafter when moved to Zamboanga as his last bastion, he surrendered to the authorities.

In Zamboanga The Governor-General upon his arrival at Fort Pilar on December 24, 1898, immediately made preparations for the defense against the Philippine revolutionaries. He brought the colonial forces from Cotabato and Lanao and consolidated them all at Fort Pilar. The Governor-General of Mindanao Island, General Jaramillo, transferred his command to General Montero, ex-governor of Cebu, and left for Manila with General Rios in Dec. 1898.

In Manila General Diego de los Rios brought his troops to Manila in January 1899, before the troops' departure to Spain. The general remained in Manila until 3 June 1899, trying to secure the release of Spanish prisoners from the rebels. General Nicola Jaramillo then took over negotiations.

Later Military Career Upon his return to the Spanish mainland, he was appointed military governor of Seville in 1902 and was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1907. He held high civil and military positions as counselor of the Supreme War and Navy Council, Captain-General of Andalusia, chief of the Army Staff, senator for the Province of Cáceres and Captain-General of the First Military Region in 1909 which he commanded until his death.