Desiderio Arias Álvarez (1872–1931) was a notable

soldier A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a Conscription, conscripted or volunteer Enlisted rank, enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, a warrant officer, or an Officer (armed forces), officer. Etymology The wo ...

and ''

caudillo A ''caudillo'' ( , ; , from Latin language, Latin , diminutive of ''caput'' "head") is a type of Personalist dictatorship, personalist leader wielding military and political power. There is no precise English translation for the term, though it ...

'' who gained a significant following throughout the northern band of the

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...

, especially in the

Montecristi The name Monte Cristi or Montecristi may refer to the following places: Dominican Republic * Monte Cristi Province * Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, the capital of Monte Cristi Province * Monte Cristi National Park Ecuador * Montecristi Can ...

region. He was killed by

Rafael Trujillo Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina ( ; ; 24 October 1891 – 30 May 1961), nicknamed ''El Jefe'' (; "the boss"), was a Dominican military officer and dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic from August 1930 until Rafael Trujillo#Assassination, ...

's forces.

First years

He was born in 1872, near to Monte Cristi. His parents were Tomas Arias and María Eugenia Álvarez, and his brothers, Evangelista and Francisco. Arias was born during the fourth government of

Buenaventura Báez Ramón Buenaventura Báez Méndez (July 14, 1812March 14, 1884), was a Dominican conservative politician and military figure. He was president of the Dominican Republic for five nonconsecutive terms. His rule was characterized by corruption and ...

. While still young, he moved to Montecristi, where he soon began working with his relative Juan Isidro Jiménes in the commercial house of J.I. Jiménez & CIA.

Introduction to the militia

Arias began his first military career with Horacio Vásquez and Ramón Cáceres. Because of his performance and connections, President Juan Isidro Jimenes Pereyra appointed him to the position of regional assistant.

Starts in the politics

On 1 January 1902, Arias married Simeona Castro, better known as Pomona, sister of the general Andrés Navarro, a known politician and military ''

'' of the northwestern band, and one of the key supporters of President Jimenes.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arias, Desiderio 1872 births 1931 deaths People from Monte Cristi Province Dominican Republic people of Spanish descent Dominican Republic activists Dominican Republic military personnel Assassinated activists People murdered in the Dominican Republic Assassinated Dominican Republic politicians Politicians assassinated in the 1930s