Mutiny of Fontezuelas

The Mutiny of Fontezuelas was the rebellion of the army of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata against Carlos María de Alvear, the supreme director, which took place on 3 April 1815 in Fontezuela, Partido de Pergamino. The army, composed of 1600 men and commanded by Ignacio Álvarez Thomas, had been ordered to march towards the Province of Santa Fe and fight the caudillo José Gervasio Artigas, within the framework of the Argentine Civil Wars; but they refused. The mutiny broke out while, in the surroundings of Arroyo del Medio, it became known that the army of Eustoquio Díaz Vélez, with which the army of Álvarez Thomas was supposed to converge, decided not to attack as well.

From the Fontezuela camp, which was named Campamento de la Libertad (Freedom Camp), the motinous army issued a proclamation signed by 46 officers, led by Álvarez Thomas, Juan Izquierdo, Julián Vega and Eusebio Valdenegro. This document justified the mutiny with the following arguments:

• The protection given to the European Spanish, who were appointed to better jobs.
• The marginalization of officers who had fought in the battlefield.
• The existence of a corrupt administration.
• The promotion of another war against Banda Oriental, rejected by the majority of the army.

The rebellion provoked the immediate resignation of Alvear on 15 April 1815. He was replaced by José Rondeau, but he could not exercise power since he was in Upper Peru preparing the Third Upper Peru campaign. Finally, Álvarez Thomas ended up in charge of the government.

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