Antonio López de Santa Anna

Antonio López de Santa Anna
Santa Anna, c. 1853
8th President of Mexico
In office 17 May 1833 – 4 June 1833
Preceded by	Valentín Gómez Farías
Succeeded by	Valentín Gómez Farías
In office 18 June 1833 – 5 July 1833
Preceded by	Valentín Gómez Farías
Succeeded by	Valentín Gómez Farías
In office 27 October 1833 – 15 December 1833
Preceded by	Valentín Gómez Farías
Succeeded by	Valentín Gómez Farías
In office 24 April 1834 – 27 January 1835
Preceded by	Valentín Gómez Farías
Succeeded by	Miguel Barragán
In office 20 March 1839 – 10 July 1839
Preceded by	Anastasio Bustamante
Succeeded by	Nicolás Bravo
In office 10 October 1841 – 26 October 1842
Preceded by	Francisco Javier Echeverría
Succeeded by	Nicolás Bravo
In office 4 March 1843 – 8 November 1843
Preceded by	Nicolás Bravo
Succeeded by	Valentín Canalizo
In office 4 June 1844 – 12 September 1844
Preceded by	Valentín Canalizo
Succeeded by	José Joaquín de Herrera
In office 21 March 1847 – 2 April 1847
Preceded by	Valentín Gómez Farías
Succeeded by	Pedro María de Anaya
In office 20 May 1847 – 15 September 1847
Preceded by	Pedro María de Anaya
Succeeded by	Manuel de la Peña y Peña
In office 20 April 1853 – 9 August 1855
Preceded by	Manuel María Lombardini
Succeeded by	Martín Carrera
Personal details
Born	(1794-02-21)21 February 1794 Xalapa, Veracruz, Viceroyalty of New Spain (now Mexico)
Died	21 June 1876(1876-06-21) (aged 82) Mexico City, Mexico
Resting place	Panteón del Tepeyac, Mexico City
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Inés García María de los Dolores de Tosta
Signature

Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón (Spanish pronunciation: [anˈtonjo ˈlopes ðe sant(a)ˈana]; 21 February 1794 – 21 June 1876), often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna and sometimes called "the Napoleon of the West", was a Mexican criollo who fought to defend royalist New Spain and then for Mexican independence. He served as a Mexican politician and general. He greatly influenced early Mexican politics and government, and was a skilled soldier and cunning politician, who dominated Mexican history in the first half of the nineteenth century to such an extent that historians often refer to it as the "Age of Santa Anna". He was called "the Man of Destiny", who "loomed over his time like a melodramatic colossus, the uncrowned monarch." Santa Anna first opposed the movement for Mexican independence from Spain, but then fought in support of it. Though not the first caudillo (military leader) of modern Mexico, he "represents the stereotypical caudillo in Mexican history," and among the earliest. Conservative historian, intellectual, and politician Lucas Alamán wrote that "The history of Mexico since 1822 might accurately be called the history of Santa Anna's revolutions.... His name plays the major role in all the political events of the country and its destiny has become intertwined with his."

He was a valiant defender of Mexico against foreign invaders, becoming a hero of the nation. Santa Anna had great power in the independent country; during a turbulent 40-year career, he served as general at crucial points and served eleven non-consecutive presidential terms over a period of 22 years. A wealthy landowner, he built a firm political base in the major port city of Veracruz. He was perceived as a hero by his troops; he sought glory for himself and his army, and independent Mexico. He repeatedly rebuilt his reputation after major losses. Historians and many Mexicans also rank him as perhaps the principal inhabitant even today of Mexico's pantheon of "those who failed the nation." His centralist rhetoric and military failures resulted in Mexico losing just over half its territory, beginning with the Texas Revolution of 1836, and culminating with the Mexican Cession of 1848 following its defeat by the United States in the Mexican–American War.