Mutiny of Álzaga
Portrait of Martín de Álzaga
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| Date | January 1, 1809 |
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| Location | Buenos Aires |
| Participants | Martín de Álzaga and supporters |
| Outcome | Mutiny defeated and leaders trialed. The supporting military units were disbanded. |
The Mutiny of Álzaga (Spanish: Asonada de Álzaga) was an ill-fated attempt to remove Santiago de Liniers as viceroy of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. It took place on January 1, 1809, and it was led by the merchant Martín de Álzaga. The troops of Cornelio Saavedra, head of the Regiment of Patricians, defeated it and kept Liniers in power.
Liniers and Álzaga were heroes of the resistance against the British invasions of the Río de la Plata, but after it Liniers was designated as viceroy, replacing Rafael de Sobremonte. Álzaga ambitioned that role as well, and attempted to remove Liniers from power. The chance came when the Peninsular War took place in Spain, with the king Ferdinand VII being taken prisoner by Napoleon.
Álzaga's ally, Francisco Javier de Elío, created a Junta in the city of Montevideo, and Álzaga attempted to do the same.
For this end he tried to promote rulings that Liniers would be likely to reject, such as to reject the designation of Bernardino Rivadavia as ensign, or a new designations of members for the Buenos Aires Cabildo full of enemies of Liniers. However, the viceroy reluctantly agreed to both things.
The members of the Cabildo decided to go on with their plan anyway. They have gathered a group of sympathizers in the Plaza, and the bulk of the Cabildo, the priest of the city, the Real Audience and the Consulate appeared at the Fort, requesting Linier's resignation. Liniers was ready to sign it, but Saavedra dispersed the rioters and stopped the formalization of the resignation.
Liniers thought that, as the population rejected him, he should resign. Saavedra argued that the rioters were not the population, and requested him to see the Plaza, which was now filled with supporters of Liniers. Thus, he gave up his idea of resigning, and stayed in power.
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