[Antonio López de Santa Anna](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_L%C3%B3pez_de_Santa_Anna) was born in 1794 into a wealthy criollo family in Veracruz, the port city on the Gulf Coast that had been founded by [[HISTORY Teaching Content/Primary Source Anthology/Chapter 1/Hernán Cortés|Cortés]] in 1519. In 1810 as a sixteen-year old, Santa Anna joined the army against his parents’ wishes and fought early revolutionaries like [Manuel Hidalgo y Costilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Hidalgo_y_Costilla). He was wounded in battle and by age 18 had been promoted to Lieutenant. When royalist officer Agustín Iturbide joined Vicente Guerrero in 1821 to support the revolution, Santa Anna changed sides too. As a reward for driving Spanish forces out of Veracruz, Iturbide made Santa Anna a general. Santa Anna was given control of the port of Veracruz and was rapidly becoming a regional caudillo. Iturbide removed Santa Anna from the post and in 1822 Santa Anna joined a rebellion against the dictator, when Iturbide suspended the constituent congress. In 1828 Santa Anna supported Guerrero for president. Spain made a final attempt to reconquer Mexico in 1829 and Santa Anna led the forces that defeated the small Spanish invasion. People began calling him (with his approval) the savior of the motherland and the Napoleon of the West. Later in 1829 a coup led by the vice president deposed and executed Guerrero. Santa Anna commanded the forces opposing the new president. In 1833 he was elected 8th president of Mexico. He would serve 11 non-consecutive terms over the next 22 years. ---- Next: [[11.11 - The Alamo]] Back: [[11.10 - Santa Anna]]