Leonardo Bravo

Leonardo Bravo (1764 – September 13, 1812) was a Mexican liberal, landowner, and general. He was the brother of Máximo Bravo and father of Nicolás Bravo. Bravo participated with the insurgent faction during the development of the armed movement of the first stage of the Independence of Mexico.

Early life Leonardo Bravo was born in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, the eldest son of a wealthy Spanish family devoted to agriculture and mining as the owner of the Hacienda of Chichihualco. He married Gertrudis Rueda, and they had a son (Nicolás) and two daughters. The Bravos were known for supporting the local festivities surrounding the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Hermenegildo Galeana, acting on the orders of José María Morelos and Pavón, requested material support from the Bravos. As they started to comply, royalist troops advanced on the Bravo hacienda, precipitating the so-called batalla de los encuerados (battle of the naked) as son Nicolás had joined the fight while bathing in a river on May 3, 1811. There is an Instituto Leonardo Bravo in Tlalnepantla de Baz, State of Mexico. The capital of Guerrero state is officially called Chilpancingo de los Bravo in honor of the family. There is a statue of Leonardo Bravo on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City.

On June 19, 1823, Nicolás Bravo was declared Benemerito of Mexico ("Meritorious of Mexico") by the Congress.