José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco
Dr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco | |
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Consul of Paraguay | |
In office October 12, 1813 – February 12, 1814 June 12, 1814 – September 20, 1840 | |
Preceded by | Fulgencio Yegros (1813) Fulgencio Yegros (1814) |
Succeeded by | Fulgencio Yegros (1814) Manuel Antonio Ortiz (1840) |
Personal details | |
Born | Yaguarón, Paraguay | January 6, 1766
Died | September 20, 1840 Asunción, Paraguay | (aged 74)
Nationality | Paraguayan |
Political party | Independent |
José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco (1766–1840) was the dictator of Paraguay. He helped Paraguay become independent from Spain. Paraguay became independent from Spain in 1811. Francia y Velasco reigned from 1814 until his death in 1840.
Francia y Velasco believed that Paraquay should be self-sufficient. During his reign, almost no goods were imported, and only yerba mate was exported. Leaves and twigs of this herb, Ilex paraguariensis, are the basis of the drink called "mate".
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Jos%C3%A9_Gaspar_Rodr%C3%ADguez_de_Francia.jpg/220px-Jos%C3%A9_Gaspar_Rodr%C3%ADguez_de_Francia.jpg)
Further reading[change | change source]
(An annotated publication of the archived collection of Francia's writings, the Colección Doroteo Bareiro, held by the "Archivo Nacional de Asuncion"):
- FRANCIA, 3 Vols. 600pgs each. Asunción, Paraguay: Editorial Tiempo de Historia. 2009. ISBN 978-99953-816-4-6.