Justo Abaunza y Muñoz de Avilés (1778 – 1872) was a

Costa Rican Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

-born

legitimist The Legitimists () are royalists who adhere to the rights of dynastic succession to the French crown of the descendants of the eldest branch of the Bourbon dynasty, which was overthrown in the 1830 July Revolution. They reject the claim of t ...

Nicaragua Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the geographically largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, comprising . With a population of 7,142,529 as of 2024, it is the third-most populous country in Central America aft ...

n lawyer and politician who served as acting Supreme Director of Nicaragua from 1 April to 5 May 1851, and as provisional Supreme Director appointed by

José Trinidad Muñoz José Trinidad Muñoz (1790 – 18 August 1855) was a Nicaraguan military general who served as the ''de facto'' military leader of Nicaragua in 1845, and again from 1847 to 1855, preceded by Casto Fonseca. Background Muñoz was the son of ...

from 4 August to 2 November 1851.

Biography

Early career

In 1803, Marcelo de los Santos Porras, priest of the town of

Masaya Masaya () is the capital city of Masaya Department in Nicaragua. It is situated approximately 14 km west of Granada, Nicaragua, Granada and 31 km southeast of Managua. It is located just east of the Masaya Volcano, an active volcano ...

, stated that according to the baptismal books and the last census practiced in his parishioners, there were Spanish residents suitable for public service, all between ages 25 and 60, such as Lieutenant Abaunza, who was the sub-delegate of the Party of

Nicoya Nicoya is a Districts of Costa Rica, district and head city of the Nicoya (canton), Nicoya canton, in the Guanacaste Province, Guanacaste province of Costa Rica, located on the Nicoya Peninsula. It is one of the country's most important tourism, ...

. On 13 July 1804 he was appointed sub-delegate of the Party of Sutiaba against the opinion of the Governor of the Province. He was a Commissioner, alongside Fulgencio Vega, of the Provisional Government of Silvestre Selva during

Malespín's War Malespín's War (Spanish: ''Guerra de Malespín'') was a Salvadoran and Honduran invasion of Nicaragua caused by the election of liberal democrat Manuel Pérez at the time of Central American turmoil dictated by Rafael Carrera's conservative d ...

, named after

Francisco Malespín Francisco Malespín Herrera (1806 – 25 November 1846) was a Salvadoran military officer and politician, elected as the president of El Salvador in 1844. He served from 7 February 1844 to 15 February 1845, when he was deposed by his vice presi ...

, who with the help of Granadan conservatives occupied and allowed the looting of the churches of León. He was accused of causing the death of 54 innocent civilians by Bernabé Somoza moments before his execution.Justo Abaunza (1851). El senador director provisorio a sus compatriotas. Imprenta de la Libertad.

As Supreme Director

He was appointed acting Supreme Director on 1 April 1851 before his elected successor,

Laureano Pineda José Laureano Pineda Ugarte (4 July 1802 – 17 September 1853) was a Nicaraguan lawyer and politician who, as a Senator in the Legislative Assembly and member of the Democratic Party, was appointed to serve as 7th and later 8th Supreme Direct ...

, took office on 5 May of the same year. On 4 August 1851 a coup led mainly by

, with support from other conservative leaders at the time, overthrew Pineda and forced him into exile in

Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca, ...

, where he declared himself Supreme Director in dissidence. Muñoz appointed senators Abaunza in León and

José Francisco del Montenegro José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced very differently in each of the two languages: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , ...

in Granada. Montenegro died suddenly only 6 days into his administration and was replaced by senator

José de Jesús Alfaro José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced very differently in each of the two languages: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , ...

. Abaunza and Alfaro would rule jointly under the supervision of Muñoz until 2 November 1851 when militia under Fruto Chamorro supported by the returning Pineda from Honduras with help from Juan Lindo began to siege León. Abaunza surrendered followed by Alfaro in Granada handing over power to Fulgencio Vega and Pineda.

Peace Negotiations

During the negotiations, it was achieved that Abaunza was included in the amnesty decree, but subject to what the Legislative Assembly decided, because he was a senator, and therefore enjoyed immunity.Justo Abaunza (1851). El senador director provisorio a sus compatriotas. Imprenta de la Libertad. It is not known what the opinion of the Assembly on Abaunza waws, but it is known that he moved to

El Salvador El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. El Salvador's capital and largest city is S ...

, where he was appointed, along with

José María Silva Licenciado José María Silva (c. 1804, San Miguel, El Salvador – October 16, 1876, San Miguel) was a Liberal Salvadoran politician. He was twice briefly chief of state of the State of El Salvador, within the Federal Republic of Central Amer ...

, to draft the Civil Code and make Reforms to the Penal Code of El Salvador, according to It is stated in the Executive Agreement of 4 February 1858.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abaunza, Justo Presidents of Nicaragua 1778 births 1872 deaths People from New Spain