Dr. Francia is a fascinating figure. He essentially governed as an enlightened absolutist, heavily repressing his enemies within the elite class, but sincerely serving the interests of the common citizens. His rule notably lacked the disease of the continent, corruption, and he left his country wealthier than he found it. He was truly that rarest sort of dictator, the benevolent one. Moreover, he created a model of governance that worked well for Paraguay, at least until the advancements he pioneered were squandered wholesale in a foolishly-executed and impossibly lopsided war. Far from being out of his mind, as portrayed by many outsiders, Dr. Francia was a brilliant visionary who basically created his country from scratch and provided his successors all the tools necessary to maintain national independence. I'd go so far as to say that he was the greatest Paraguayan who ever lived, and that he should still serve as an inspiration to those seeking to develop their countries according to the wills of their peoples, rather than the demands of multinationals.
These videos are very creative and they show how much you truly know about the subject. I'm very happy you post these and I consistently use them for my research on Nations in Central and South America. keep up the good work, you are an artist my friend.
Nice Job,⬆ but still the reason of war, and why Colorados was the reasons of the war where the monarchies was killed, I dont understand how they still get to power for long time,
Actualy, Paraguay invaded Argentina, which led Miter to enter the war, so many Paraguayans died, because Solano Sopes, he refused to surrender even after Brazil took Asunción, he put paraguayan children to fight as soldiers when his army was destroyed. Brazilians in particular committed atrocities against surrendered soldiers and civilians, which helped in the total fatality, largely in revenge for what paraguayan troops did to brazilian civilians when they invaded Mato Grosso, when Brazilian troops were occupied in Uruguay.
Thanks for being the first portuguese surnamed person to acknowledge brazillian crimes apart from our own, sad situation that so many brazilians today dont know that all involved in this war but the uruguayans were atrocious,
Argentina had declared itself neutral; however, he collaborated with Brazil, allowing his troops free passage to attack Paraguay and Uruguay, a _casus belli._ López had offered Mitre an armistice, to continue fighting alone with Brazil and Uruguay, but Mitre refused. Brazil committed true excesses and war crimes, atrocities even reprehensible for the time; so much so that Argentina decided not to participate in the taking of Asuncion in protest.
