On February 8th, 1785, Martín Miguel Juan de Mata Güemes, one of the central figures in the struggle for Argentine and Latin American independence, was born in the city of Salta. 241 years after his birth, his legacy continues to stand as a symbol of leadership, patriotic commitment, and defense of national sovereignty.
From a very young age, Güemes embraced a military career. He was educated at the Colegio San Carlos in Buenos Aires and, at just 14 years of age, joined the army as a cadet. His actions during the British invasions of 1806 and 1807 marked the beginning of a career that would lead him to play a decisive role in the emancipation process, later participating in key actions of the Army of the North, such as the Battle of Suipacha and the campaigns in Upper Peru.
Back in his homeland, Güemes took on a fundamental strategic mission: the defense of the northern border. At the head of militias made up of gauchos from Salta and Jujuy, he organized sustained resistance against the royalist invasions, developing an irregular warfare tactic known as the Gaucho War. This strategy proved decisive in halting the enemy's advance and allowing the development of the continental plan promoted by José de San Martín.
In recognition of his leadership and his deep knowledge of the territory, San Martín appointed him Commander of the Río Pasaje Advance Guard and later promoted him within the military structure. In 1815, Güemes was elected Governor of the Intendency of Salta, which comprised the current territories of Salta, Jujuy, and Tarija. From there, he defended northern Argentina in adverse conditions and with little external support.
In 1820, San Martín appointed him Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Observation over Peru, consolidating his role as a key figure in the independence strategy. However, a year later, a royalist incursion led by Colonel José María “Barbarucho” Valdez, with the support of local opposition sectors, changed the course of his life. Wounded during the invasion of the city of Salta on June 7th, 1821, Güemes died ten days later, on June 17th, at the age of 36.
Martín Miguel de Güemes was the only Argentine general to die in action during the war of independence. He embodies courage, resilience, and commitment to freedom. In recognition of his decisive contribution, he was declared a National Hero by Law No. 26,125, and his passing into immortality is commemorated every June 17 as Latin American Freedom Day.
241 years after his birth, the nation honors Martín Miguel de Güemes, a key figure in the independence movement and a tireless defender of Argentina's territory and sovereignty.
