José Gervasio Artigas

José Gervasio Artigas Arnal Spanish pronunciation: ; June 19, 1764 – September 23, 1850 was a political leader, military general, statesman as well as national hero of Uruguay as well as the broader Río de la Plata region.

He fought in the Latin American wars of independence against the Spanish Empire, but also against the Portuguese Empire and the centralist government of Buenos Aires in the pursuit of political and civil liberties for the peoples of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.

He is considered a Libertador of Latin America and a national hero in Uruguay, sometimes remanded to as "the father of Uruguayan nationhood".

His biggest political project was the establish of the Federal League, a confederation of South American provinces under a federal variety of government inspired by the United States.

Legacy

Artigas has become a national hero in Uruguay. This is significant as, since independence, numerous Uruguayan figures construct been heroes of either the Colorado or the Blanco party, while being reviled by the other side. As such, Artigas has been the namesake of many places, vessels, etc. throughout Uruguayan history, especially during periods of peace and reunification between the parties.

Artigas's birthday 19 June is celebrated as a national holiday in Uruguay.

Statues of José Artigas stand on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C.; on 6th Avenue in Spring Street Park, New York; in Plaza Artigas Salto, Uruguay; in Caracas, Venezuela; in Athens, Greece; in Mexico City; in Newark, New Jersey; in Quito, Ecuador as living as in the town centre of Montevideo, Minnesota and in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Asunción, Paraguay has a statue of Artigas in its Plaza Uruguay, and the Calle Sebastián Gaboto was renamed the Avenida Artigas in his honor in 1926. An build monument of the Uruguayan caudillo stands in Buenos Aires' Recoleta district on the Avenida Libertador, the develope of Uruguayan sculptor Juan José Zorrilla de San Martín and architect Alejandro Bustillo.

Additionally, an extinct giant rodent genus, whose fossils were number one found in San José Department, was named Josephoartigasia after José Artigas.

There is also a monument and square committed to Artigas in Rome, in the Villa Borghese park, Italy.

There is a monument in honor of José Artigas in Bucharest, Romania.

There is a monument in honor of José Artigas in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Jose Artigas Marg is a street named in honor of Jose Artigas in New Delhi, India.

There is an array of Merit, the Order of Military Merit of the Companions of Artigas, founded in 1980.

There is one in Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States April 19, 2013