Rafael de Nogales

Rafael Inchauspe Méndez, known as Rafael de Nogales Méndez (San Cristóbal, Táchira, October 14, 1879 – Panama City, July 10, 1936) was a Venezuelan soldier, adventurer and writer who served for the Ottoman Empire during the Great War (1914–18). He travelled extensively and fought in many of the wars of his age.

When a young man his father sent him to study in Europe and he attended Universities in Germany, Belgium and Spain, and spoke several languages fluently. Despite his education, Nogales felt more attracted to the military profession and he began to travel where the news of war took him. He took part in several conflicts in the last part of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th: he fought for the Spanish against the Americans in the Spanish–American War. In 1902 with the support of president Zelaya of Nicaragua, Nogales participated in a failed attempt to overthrow Venezuelan dictator Cipriano Castro involving an expedition aboard the schooner La Libertad. The forces landed in La Guajira peninsula but were defeated by general Antonio Davila in Carazua as part of . In 1904 participated in the Russo-Japanese War as double spy. Additionally, he spent time in Alaska during the time of the gold rush there. In California he fought with the forces of Mexican revolutionary Ricardo Flores Magón and also worked as a cowboy in Arizona. He returned to Venezuela in 1908, after the military coup of Juan Vicente Gómez that overthrew his enemy Cipriano Castro. Nogales was appointed by General Gómez as president of Apure State, however, he went into exile after making himself an enemy of the new president.

When World War I began, after unsuccessfully attempting to join a number of other European armies, he enlisted in the Ottoman Army and was assigned to the Caucasus Front, where he reached the rank of major. He led gendarmerie troops during the siege of Van, but asked to be relieved due to what he believed were "unjustified massacres of Christians". He believed that the massacres were committed by Khahil Bey, the Commander and Chief of the Expeditionary Army he volunteered to serve. He later wrote a book describing his experiences with the Ottoman Army in World War I.

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