Jorge Córdova

Jorge Córdova (23 April 1822, in La Paz – 23 October 1861) was a Bolivian general and politician who served as the 12th president of Bolivia from 1855 to 1857. He was overthrown in 1857 by forces loyal to José María Linares. He was assassinated in 1861.

Early life

Childhood Jorge Córdova was born on April 23, 1822, in the city of La Paz, which at that time still belonged to the Viceroyalty of Peru. Of unknown parents, unfortunately Córdova had been born into a family of very humble origin belonging to the lower class of Bolivia, which led to days after his birth, and while he was still a baby, his parents deciding to abandon him, leaving him at the door of a house belonging to the Asín family, which during that time was a distinguished upper-middle class charitable family from the city of La Paz.

Military campaigns (1834-1841) Already on the street and looking for a safe haven, Córdova decided to enlist in the Bolivian Army in March 1834 when he was only 12 years old at the time, just as many youngsters did (his own contemporaries) during that time, adopting the arms career. But due to his too young age, which prevented him from being a line soldier and in order not to expel him from the ranks, the officers then decide to send the young Córdova to an army music band where he started as a player of the Triangle (musical instrument).

Battle of ingavi In 1841, the Peruvian Army under the command of its president Agustín Gamarra decides to invade Bolivia to annex Bolivian territories. In defense, under the command of the President of Bolivia at the time, Marshal José Ballivián, who decided to unite all Bolivians (who were fighting at the time). The young Córdova continued with his military career, rising quickly due to his connection with Belzu. In 1845, he was promoted to the rank of major and in 1848 to the rank of lieutenant colonel. It is worth mentioning that that year his father-in-law reached the Presidency of Bolivia through a coup against President José Miguel de Velasco, Córdova played a crucial role in the Battle of Yamparáez of 1848.

Presidency

Election

When in 1855 Belzu decided to call elections and "retire" from politics in the face of repeated rebellions against his rule, he sponsored Córdova's candidacy. The latter was elected president and proceeded to be sworn in on August 15, 1855, at age thirty-three. Not surprisingly, Córdova was widely seen as ex-president Belzu's proxy, and merely an instrument of his power. Belzu remained the proverbial "power behind the throne," and this fact only spurred the opposition to continue to conspire against the hated Belzu-Córdova regime, which had run Bolivian politics since 1848.

Downfall

In August 1857, Córdova had moved to the city of Sucre to give his presidential message to the nation in homage to August 6 (day of the country's foundation). Hardly a month had passed when, in September of that year, the tireless political fighter José María Linares reappeared. On September 9, 1857, Linares proclaimed himself in the city of Oruro as the new President of Bolivia, rising up militarily with his followers against the government of President Córdova.

This time, Córdova launched his army (which was in the city of Sucre) and set out on a trip to the city of Oruro with the aim of disrupting the subversive movement of Linares and his followers. President Córdova put himself at the head of his troops, because with this action, Córdova wanted to put an end once and for all to all the military uprisings that had been generated throughout his government and which were promoted by Linares.

When José María Linares found out about Córdova's approach to Oruro, he left the city with his followers on September 17 and headed to Cochabamba, taking with him all the weapons of the military garrisons (barracks) of Oruro.

Battle of Cochabamba President Córdova's troops entered the city of Cochabamba and attacked the barricades trying to enter the main plaza on 14 September, but their efforts were useless as they were constantly pushed back by the "Linaristas" and the armed people of the city.

Assassination During the government of President José María de Achá, Cordova returned to Bolivia, thanks to an amnesty, but was the victim of a conspiracy by Colonel Plácido Yáñez, who accused him of allegedly conspiring against the Achá government and had him arrested at his home.

While he was under arrest, Córdova was assassinated on October 23, 1861, on the orders Colonel Yáñez, along with fifty other detainees. These killings were named the Matanzas de Yañez or Matanzas of Loretto. Two days later, the Bolivian government sought to legalize this murder, sentencing the late former president Córdova to death, in a pantomime of a War Council, on charges of high treason.