Who is Juan Santamaría?
Around Costa Rica, you will find his name gracing streets, a museum, a park, many literary, musical, and art works, even the primary international airport. He is a national hero, but who is he?
Juan Santamaría Rodríguez (August 29, 1831 – April 11, 1856), born in Alajuela, was a drummer in the Costa Rican army and officially recognized as the national hero of his country for his actions in the 1856 Second Battle of Rivas, in the Filibuster War. It is said that he died in the battle carrying a torch he used to light the enemy stronghold on fire (El Mesón de Guerra), securing a victory for Costa Rica against American mercenary William Walker and his imperialist forces. Thirty-five years after his death, he began to be idealized and was used to inspire Costa Rican nationalism. A national holiday in Costa Rica, Juan Santamaría Day, is held annually on April 11th to commemorate his death.
We visited the Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría in Alajuela, which sits on the central square and features detailed descriptions of the history and battles leading to Costa Rican independence. The museum also includes some wonderful Costa Rican art, and an incredible view of the city and surrounding hills from the rooftop.
The bronze statue erected in his honor was created by Onésime-Aristide Croisy, a French sculptor, and sits in Juan Santamaría Park in Alajuela.
Interestingly, there is some debate about whether or not he actually existed. One reason for the debate is that there are reports that he was of mixed racial background and raised by a single mother. About 30 years after the war, Costa Rican leaders sought to unify the country as a homogenous and white nation with a working class hero. Juan Santamaría was depicted with Caucasian features in some places, including on the statue erected in his honor, despite evidence that he may have been half black. The municipality of Alajuela compiled documents, witnesses and fellow soldiers to attest that he was real, but the validity of the documentation remains up for debate. Despite a relative lack of proof, there is a strong and consistent oral tradition that Juan Santamaría existed, that he was present at the Second Battle of Rivas, that he was one of the people who participated in burning down the building, and that he died in the act after being mortally wounded. What do you think?
Big thanks to Adeola Babatunde for his translating and research skills, gathering information for this post!