Carlos de Vargas

Birth and early years

He was born on September 8, 1803 in Ceuta, Spain, into an illustrious family. Joining the Spanish Army as a cadet at age five, he became a captain of provincial militias in Ronda and Pontevedra by 1816.

During the reign of Ferdinand VII he performed ordinary services until 1830, when he graduated as lieutenant colonel of the garrison in Segovia and moved to the Royal Guard, 1st Grenadiers. In 1827 he served under Pedro Sarsfield in the Army of Observation of the Tagus. Promoted to effective lieutenant colonel in Galicia, he received the Cross of San Juan that year.

First Carlist War

He fought at numerous battles including Heredia, Huesa, Alsasua, Muez, Olazagoitia, Artazu, Larrión, Viana, Echarri-Aranaz, Arrieta, Alegría, Doña María, Peñas de San Fausto, Ormáiztegui, Orviso, Los Arcos, Zelandieta, Arróniz, Torre Galindo, Amézcoa, Descarga, Treviño, Villafranca, Tolosa, Vergara and Ochandiano. He rose to colonel for war merits and won the laurel of San Fernando after being wounded defending the bridge of Larraga, where he was given up for dead.

After recovery he led the General Staff of the 3rd Northern Division under the Count of Eguía, distinguishing himself at Guetaria, Lequeitio, Arlabán and Berrón. He won the action of Amezagaña despite a grenade wound to the head. As Chief of Staff of Guipúzcoa he defeated General Sarsfield at Sarasa. Wounded again at Antandegui and Oriamendi, he defeated General O'Donell at Andoáin and was wounded at Urnieta.

In 1838 he was arrested in Mondragón for nine months until Don Carlos declared his loyalty in 1839. Charged with arresting General Maroto, Vargas himself became Maroto's prisoner until after the Vergara Convention. He emigrated to France for ten years, returning under the 1849 amnesty. In 1850 he married Enriqueta Van Halen Lasquetty after his first wife died.

Cuba, Mexico and Dominican Republic

Posted to Cuba in 1850, Vargas served as interim commander general of the Eastern Department until 1855, then as civil governor there until 1860, earning the Grand Cross of San Hermenegildo. Known as 'the builder' in Santiago de Cuba, he ordered the first sidewalks, hospitals, cemeteries, barracks and commuter trains. At the inauguration of the Príncipe Alfonso Hospital he organized maneuvers between Santiago de Cuba and El Caney, believing the Americans would take Cuba through Guantanamo.

Vargas street in Santiago de Cuba and the Vargas lighthouse at Cabo Cruz commemorate his tenure. In 1861 he was assigned as second corporal to Puerto Rico, then second land chief under General Prim in the expedition against Mexico. On May 21, 1862, he was assigned to the Santo Domingo campaign as second in command, participating in actions at Sabaneta, Santiago de los Caballeros, Montecristi, Cibao, Puerto Plata and Altamira. He received the sash of field marshal and the Grand Cross of Charles III in 1862, and was named Gentleman of the Chamber of His Majesty.

In 1863 he became captain general of Santo Domingo, reconquering Azúa and defeating Dominican insurgents at San Cristóbal, Doñana, Pulgarín, Sabana-Buey and Azúa. He ceased command in 1864; Spanish troops evacuated the island in 1865.

Later years and death

In 1867, with Luis González Bravo in power, Vargas was named captain general of the Basque Provinces. He tried to prevent the Glorious Revolution and, after the Battle of Alcolea, attempted to restore Isabel II, accompanying her to France when that failed.

After her abdication he offered his sword to Charles of Bourbon and Austria-Este. He organized the Carlist Military Center in Madrid, but his ailments, wounds and advanced age prevented him from campaigning again. He died in Madrid in 1876.