José Félix Aldao

José Félix Aldao
Portrait by Fernando García del Molino (detail)
Governor of Mendoza Province, Argentina
In office 24 November 1841 – 19 January 1845
Preceded by	Gregorio Aráoz de La Madrid
Succeeded by	Celedonio de la Cuesta
Personal details
Born	1785 Mendoza, Argentina
Died	1845 Mendoza, Argentina
Nationality	Argentine
Political party	Federalist

José Félix Esquivel y Aldao (1785 - 1845) was an Argentine Dominican friar who became a General and then the undisputed Federist caudillo of Mendoza Province. His ability as a soldier and his cruelty became legendary. The largely fictionalized biography that Domingo Faustino Sarmiento wrote fed his legend. An effective ruler, he did much for his province, but was also one of the cruelest of the federalist leaders.

José Félix Esquivel y Aldao was born in Mendoza, Argentina on October 11, 1785, the son of an army captain from what is now Santa Fe Province. His brothers José and Francisco were both soldiers who reached the rank of Colonel. He was educated in a Dominican college and soon entered the order. He was ordained a priest in 1806, and gained a doctorate in Santiago de Chile.

In returning to Mendoza, Aldao joined the Army of the Andes along with his brothers to campaign in Chile as chaplain of a regiment. In the Battle of Guardia Vieja he suddenly took up arms and fought beside the soldiers. Due to this, on the advice of General Juan Gregorio de las Heras to General José de San Martín, he joined the army as a lieutenant of the Mounted Grenadiers Regiment. His strength, size and energy made him more suitable for an army uniform than for a cassock. He fought throughout the campaign in Chile in Chacabuco, Cancha Rayada and Maipú.

In the Peruvian campaign Aldao was chosen to direct guerrilla operations in the Sierra. He roused the indigenous people to withhold resources from the royalists, to support the patriot army and to undertake minor operations, with hundreds of small battles. The royalists resorted to terror in response, and Aldao also showed great cruelty. During that war he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Aldao returned to the province of Mendoza in 1824 and dedicated himself to wine production. He would gradually become addicted to drink. In July 1825, a revolution led by Catholic priests deposed the San Juan governor Salvador María del Carril, who was carrying out a religious reform modeled on that of Bernardino Rivadavia. Del Carril fled to Mendoza for help, which was supplied as a small army under Colonel Jose Aldao and his brothers Francis and Jose Felix. They easily defeated the rebels, returning one of the most notable civilian Unitarian leaders to power.