Anotnio López de Santa Anna is without a doubt the most controversial character in the history of Mexico in the 19th century. Here we present his biography ...
Antonio López de Santa Anna, born in 1794 in Jalapa, Veracruz. Very young he entered the royalist troops standing out for his courage.
In 1821 Santa Anna joins the insurgents of the Plan of Iguala. He overthrew Iturbide in 1823 with the Casemate Plan. From then on he takes part in all the political events of the chaotic independent life of Mexico. He joins successively liberals and conservatives, in praised persecuted and suffers exile on several occasions. In 1835 he intervened in the war with the United States in command of the Mexican army, but is taken prisoner in San Jacinto after having obtained some military triumphs (shot from The Alamo).
Antonio López de Santa Anna is sent to Mexico where he is enthusiastically received. In 1838 he again led the army against the French in the Cakes war. He holds the presidency of Mexico 11 times and names himself dictator in 1853 with the title of Serene Highness and Dictator for Life, but the excessive tax hike and the sale to the United States of La Mesilla (one million square kilometers between Sonora and Chihuahua) They win over him in unpopularity and mark his decline. A group of political adversaries launches the Ayutla Plan in 1854 so Santa Anna resigned and took refuge in Havana.
Santa Anna sometimes returns trying to regain power, even escaping the death penalty in 1867 after being confined in San Juan de Ulúa. Settles in the Bahamas and returns to Mexico upon death Benito Juarez. He died in Mexico City in 1876.
Antonio López de Santa Anna is undoubtedly the most controversial character in the history of Mexico in the 19th century.
