Generalissimo Ignacio Allende’s memory honored on his death anniversary

Published June 27th, 2022

211 years after he was shot, the Municipal Government honored the memory of our Eponymous Hero, the First Soldier of the Homeland and Favorite Son of the State of Guanajuato: Ignacio de Allende y Unzaga.

During the civic act choral poetry was performed, a historical review, of the historical and cultural transcendence of Ignacio Allende, as well as the image that gives identity to this municipality. To close the civic act, a Guard of Honor was set up under the statue in the Civic Plaza, a wreath was offered and the funeral march was sung to his illustrious memory.

As the last moment of the memorial to the insurgent who gives his name to this Heritage City, its municipal and educational authorities walked from the Civic Plaza to the First Square to reach the so-called “Casa de Allende”, where a second Guard of Honor was held and where accompanied by the attendees who joined the contingent, mainly sanmiguelenses, to remember the life and work of General Allende, the First Soldier of the Homeland, Favorite Son of the State of Guanajuato and Eponymous Hero of San Miguel Ignacio Allende.

“San Miguel never saw you alive again or your voices and footsteps never returned to fill the enchanted silence of your town, but today you are here, Generalissimo Don Ignacio de Allende y Unzaga, you are present in every son of your town who lives and smiles in every San Miguel citizen, in every Mexican who studies and works for the freedom and sovereignty of a homeland that you won for him. Your shameful death that now we remember the insulting silence of your severed head exposed for 10 years in Granaditas is broken today in the glorious ringing of all the bells of your people that sing your epic and your people while stone upon stone is raised and while the last Sanmiguelenses are encouraged on the face of the Earth we must speak to the world of your genius, your prowess and your heroism, long live Allende”, said the director of Culture and Traditions, Acacio Martinez.

The civic act commemorating the 211th anniversary of the execution of Allende and Unzaga was attended by councilors Mariana Arzola Zarate, Felipe Tapia, Paulina Gallardo, Carlos Gonzalez, Carlos Olvera, Silvia Guerrero, and Enedina Correa.

Also present were the representative of the XVI Military Zone, Óscar Orlando Medina Mendoza; the director of the Universidad de León Plantel San Miguel de Allende, Martín Estefanoni; the head of Rural Education, Adriana Rosales Arroyo; the head of Education, Bladimir Bautista del Rosal; as well as students, teachers, parents, Mexican Army personnel and municipal officials.

In the memorial of his life and work, Ignacio de Allende y Unzaga was at odds with Miguel Hidalgo since the Battle of Templo de las Cruces, which meant the loss of the plaza of Guanajuato. After the adverse results, the Insurgents met at the Hacienda del Pabellón and there they relieved General Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, who resigned and forced Ignacio Allende to assume this position.

The Insurgent Army then headed for the United States; however, due to a betrayal, Ignacio Elizondo would make them prisoners in Acatita de Baján and both Allende and Ignacio Aldama were taken to Monclova, Coahuila, and later to Chihuahua, where their trial began on May 6, 1811.

By June 26, Ignacio Allende, as well as 28 other leaders of the Independence Movement, were executed, among them the eponymous hero of this city, as well as Aldama, Mariano Jiménez, Manuel Santamaría, and Francisco Lanzagorta.

After being shot, the decapitated head of Ignacio Allende was taken to Guanajuato, together with that of Miguel Hidalgo, to be exhibited in the corners of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas.