Bernardino Caballero

Long ago, a man named Bernardino Caballero lived in Paraguay.

He was a brave soldier in a big war.

He was a great war hero. Later, he became the leader of his land. He helped start a group called the Colorado Party. This group is still very big today.

He helped build new banks. He also helped start a new town. Many people still remember him today. One town even has his name!

Bernardino Caballero was a leader in Paraguay. He was born in 1839. He was a soldier in the Paraguayan War. He rose through the ranks to become a general. He was a war hero. In 1870, Brazilian soldiers captured him. They let him go one year later.

After the war, Caballero entered politics. He served in many roles. He was a minister for the government. In 1880, he became the President of Paraguay. During his time as leader, he made many changes. He helped start the city of Villa Florida. He also helped make two new banks. He created a way to track births and deaths.

Caballero was a very powerful man. He helped start the Colorado Party in 1887. This is a very large political group today. He also helped his friend, Patricio Escobar, become leader. Caballero stayed active in the Senate for many years. He died in 1912. Today, a town in Paraguay bears his name. He is buried in a special place for heroes.

Bernardino Caballero was a very important leader in Paraguay. He was a soldier and a politician. He lived from 1839 to 1912. He was born in a place called Ybycuí. His family had roots in Spanish nobility. He was the son of Jose Ramón Caballero de Anazco. His mother was Melchora Inés Melgarejo y Genés. He had a very large family. He had two wives. He also had 90 other children. All of them were formally recognized by him. Today, he has many descendants all over the world.

Caballero spent much of his life as a soldier. He joined the Paraguayan Army in 1864. This was during the Paraguayan War. He fought in the Mato Grosso Campaign. He worked as an assistant to President Francisco Solano López. Caballero stayed loyal to the president. He worked his way up the ranks. He eventually became a cavalry general. He was a great war hero. In 1870, Brazilian soldiers captured him near the Apa River. They released him in May 1871. He became friendly with the Brazilians while he was held. This friendship helped him later in his life.

After the war, Caballero moved into politics in Asunción. He joined a group of loyalists led by Cándido Bareiro. He took part in several revolts in 1873 and 1874. These fights were against Benigno Ferreira. After these events, Caballero held many government jobs. He served as the Interior minister. Later, he was the Minister of Justice, Worship and Education. He even traveled to London in 1874. He went there with Higinio Uriarte to talk about money loans. He helped make sure Cándido Bareiro became president after 1877.

Caballero became the President of Paraguay in 1880. This happened after a coup in September. He served as leader until November 1886. During his time, he made many new rules. He started a Civil Register to keep records. He founded the city of Villa Florida. He also created a department for immigration. In 1881, he helped start the Banco Nacional. He also helped start the Banco del Paraguay. To raise money, he sold land that belonged to the state.

Caballero remained a powerful man even after his presidency. He wanted his friend Patricio Escobar to win the next election. Because of this, his rivals started the Liberal Party. In September 1887, Caballero started the Colorado Party. This is still the largest political party in Paraguay today. He served in the Senate for many years. He was the president of the Senate in 1894 and 1902. He helped put Juan Antonio Escurra in power during a coup. Caballero died in Asunción in 1912. He is buried in the National Pantheon of the Heroes. A town in Paraguay is also named after him.

Bernardino Caballero was a major military leader and politician in Paraguay. He lived from May 20, 1839, to February 26, 1912. His life spanned a time of great change for his country. He rose from a soldier to become the President of Paraguay. He also founded one of the most important political parties in the nation. Today, his legacy remains visible in Paraguayan politics and geography.

Caballero was born in Ybycuí to a family with Spanish noble roots. His father was Jose Ramón Caballero de Anazco. His mother was Melchora Inés Melgarejo y Genés. He had a very large family during his lifetime. He married María de la Concepción Díaz de Bedoya and Julia Álvarez. He had two children from his first marriage. However, he also formally recognized 90 other children. Because of this, he has a vast number of descendants today.

His career began in the military during the Paraguayan War. He joined the Paraguayan Army in 1864. During the war, he participated in the Mato Grosso Campaign. He served as an assistant to President Francisco Solano López in Humaitá. Caballero remained loyal to the president throughout the conflict. He rose through the military ranks to become a cavalry general. He was considered a great war hero. On April 8, 1870, Brazilian forces captured him near the Apa River. They released him in May 1871. During his time as a prisoner, he developed friendships with Brazilians. These connections helped his future political career.

After the war, Caballero entered the world of politics in Asunción. He joined a faction of López loyalists led by Cándido Bareiro. He participated in several revolts in 1873 and 1874. These uprisings were aimed at the powerful Benigno Ferreira. Following these events, Caballero held several important government positions. He served as the Interior minister under Salvador Jovellanos. He later became the Minister of Justice, Worship and Education under President Juan Bautista Gill. In 1874, he traveled to London with Vice President Higinio Uriarte. Their mission was to discuss financial loans for the country. After Gill died in 1877, Caballero helped Cándido Bareiro win the presidency.

Caballero took power through a coup in September 1880. On September 4, the Minister of War and Navy, Pedro Duarte, arrested Vice President Adolfo Saguier. Saguier was forced to resign his position. The Senate then elected Caballero as President. He served from September 1880 until November 1886. During his presidency, he established several new systems. He created a Civil Register to track citizens. He founded the city of Villa Florida. He also created the General Department of Immigration. In June 1881, he helped establish the Banco Nacional and the private Banco del Paraguay. To raise money for the government, he sold land once owned by the state and the López family.

Caballero stayed involved in politics long after his presidency ended. He was unable to serve a second consecutive term due to limits. To ensure his influence continued, he rigged the 1886 election. This helped his close friend, Patricio Escobar, win the presidency. This action caused his opponents to form the Liberal Party. In response, Caballero founded the Colorado Party in September 1887. The Colorado Party became the largest political party in Paraguay. From 1887 to 1904, Caballero served as a member of the Senate. He also served as the president of the Senate in 1894 and 1902.

Even as a former president, Caballero held significant power. He remained the commander of the army and the Colorado Party. He helped organize a coup in 1902 to put Juan Antonio Escurra in power. His influence lasted until the 1904 Revolution, when the Liberals took control. Caballero died in Asunción in 1912. He is buried in the National Pantheon of the Heroes. His impact on the nation is so large that a Paraguayan town is named General Bernardino Caballero in his honor.