Manuel Nicolás Arízaga Machuca (Cuenca, December 12, 1856 – December 28, 1906) was an Ecuadorian lawyer, poet, journalist, and politician. Born into a prominent family, he became known for his involvement in revolutionary activities against the dictatorship of Ignacio de Veintemilla and later served as a Deputy in Ecuador’s National Convention. A prolific writer, he contributed poetry, essays, and political articles to numerous publications, often advocating conservative ideals and Ecuadorian nationalism. Arízaga spent multiple periods in exile, where he continued his literary work, including the collection Voces del Destierro. His literary and political contributions left a lasting impact on Ecuadorian intellectual and public life.
Early Life and Education
Manuel Nicolás Arízaga Machuca was born in Cuenca, Ecuador, on December 12, 1856, and was baptized a few days later by his second cousin, Fray Vicente Solano Machuca, in the Cuenca Cathedral. His father, Dr. José Rafael Arízaga Machuca, was an anti-García Moreno politician, and his mother, Isabel Machuca y Anda, was a descendant of Colonel Alejandro Vargas-Machuca, an important figure in Ecuador’s independence. Arízaga grew up in a family with deep ties to politics and intellectual life. He had a brother, Rafael María Arízaga Machuca, who was also a poet, politician, and journalist. The two often worked together on political and literary projects, including publishing El Independiente, which supported their conservative views. Through their writings and political actions, they helped shape Ecuador’s intellectual and cultural scene in the late 19th century.
He started his education with private tutors and then attended the Colegio de San Luís. In 1874, he entered the University of Cuenca to study law, where he became involved in both academic and political activities. During his time there, he also contributed to local literary and political groups. One of his early accomplishments was writing the play La Expósita, which was performed at a formal event in 1878.
Literary Career
Manuel Nicolás Arízaga Machuca had a rich literary career, deeply intertwined with his political activities. He began writing early in life, contributing to several Ecuadorian periodicals while still a law student. His first published poems, “Adiós” and “Mi Musa,” appeared in La Luciérnaga in 1876, marking the start of his poetic career. In 1878, he wrote and presented a drama titled “La Expósita,” a three-act play in verse, though it was never published.
Arízaga continued to publish poems and essays in various Ecuadorian newspapers and magazines throughout his life. His political views were often reflected in his writings, as seen in his “Himno de Guerra contra Veintemilla” (1878), written in opposition to the dictatorship of Ignacio de Veintemilla. His ode “A la Justicia” won a literary contest in Guayaquil, further establishing his reputation as a poet.
He published several notable works over the years, including:
In addition to his poetry and political writings, Manuel Nicolás Arízaga Machuca published several notable works throughout his career. In 1880, he released A la memoria de la señora Dolores Borrero de Vega, an eight-page tribute to a prominent figure in Cuenca. A decade later, in 1890, he published A la memoria del Dr. José Rafael Arízaga, dedicated to honoring the memory of his father. His 1897 poem Pro Patria, included in the collection Voces del Destierro, was written during his exile in Lima and expressed his deep patriotism and longing for Ecuador. In 1892, Arízaga also dedicated a poem to South American independence hero Antonio José de Sucre, titled A Sucre, which was published in the Revista Ecuatoriana.
In 1903, he published “Caín,” a 53-page pamphlet under the pseudonym Vindex, in which he defended his father’s legacy against accusations related to the assassination of former President Gabriel García Moreno.
Arízaga contributed extensively to Ecuadorian publications such as El Correo del Azuay, La Unión Literaria, Revista Ecuatoriana, and La Palabra. His works frequently addressed political themes, often earning him praise for his eloquence and patriotic fervor. Despite periods of exile and hardship, Arízaga continued to write, reflecting both his romantic poetic sensibilities and his deep commitment to Ecuador’s political future.
Arízaga’s contributions were recognized posthumously in several important compilations. His poetry collection, Poesías de Manuel Nicolás Arízaga (1959), was published with a prologue by Víctor Manuel Albornoz. Additionally, his work was featured in El Azuay Literario (1932), an anthology compiled by Manuel Moreno Mora that highlighted significant literary figures from the Azuay region. His poetry was also included in the 2011 collection Cantos a Guayaquil, edited by Germán Arteta Vargas. These posthumous publications helped preserve and honor his contribution to Ecuadorian literature and culture.
Political Career
Manuel Nicolás Arízaga Machuca’s political career began in the mid-1870s when, as a young law student, he took up arms against the dictatorship of Ignacio de Veintemilla during the revolution of 1876. He participated in the Battle of Galte in December 1876 and, after the revolution’s failure, went into hiding. His revolutionary spirit persisted throughout his life, and he remained deeply involved in Ecuador’s political movements.
After completing his law degree in 1879, Arízaga joined several insurgent forces, including the battalion that marched into Quito in January 1883 to overthrow Veintemilla. Following this victory, he was appointed Subsecretary of the Ministry of Interior and Foreign Affairs, although he resigned after two months. He later contributed to the anti-Veintemilla press in Guayaquil, including La República.
In 1883, he was elected as a Deputy for the newly created Province of El Oro in the National Convention. Arízaga advocated for a federal system of government, though this proposal did not succeed. His strong conservative values often put him at odds with other political figures. He earned the rank of Colonel and received honors from the Municipality of Cuenca for his efforts. However, his involvement in a violent altercation with Colonel Luis Vega Garrido, resulting in Vega’s severe injury, forced Arízaga into temporary exile in the United States.
Over the years, Arízaga’s political engagements often led to conflicts with both conservative and liberal factions in Ecuador. His opposition to General Eloy Alfaro’s liberal revolution in the 1890s resulted in his exile once again, this time to Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Peru. He continued his fight for Ecuadorian conservatism by founding the newspaper El Proscrito during his exile and even attempted to organize a military expedition to reclaim power in 1898, though this effort failed.
Arízaga returned to Ecuador in 1901 after receiving a pardon from President Leonidas Plaza. Despite suffering personal tragedies and the loss of his home in a fire, he resumed his legal career and continued to write and engage in political debates. His last years were marked by illness, but even as his health declined, Arízaga remained committed to the political causes he had championed throughout his life. He passed away in Cuenca on December 28, 1906, at the age of 50.
Arízaga’s political career reflected his unwavering commitment to conservative principles, which led him to both victories and personal hardship, including multiple exiles. Despite this, he remained a significant figure in Ecuadorian political and literary history.
Exile and Return
Arízaga’s outspoken nature often put him at odds with the government, leading to periods of exile. Following a personal conflict with Colonel Luis Vega Garrido, he moved to the United States, residing in Brooklyn for a period. After his return to Ecuador, he continued to practice law but was exiled again in 1898 after a failed military expedition against the government.
He spent his exile in various Latin American countries, including Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Peru, where he continued to write and publish poetry, such as “Pro Patria” in 1897. In Peru, he founded the newspaper El Proscrito and organized another insurgent expedition in 1898, which was also unsuccessful.
Arízaga returned to Ecuador in 1901 after receiving a pardon from President Leonidas Plaza. He resumed his legal career in Guayaquil but faced personal tragedies, including the death of his young son in 1902 and the loss of his home in a fire.
Legacy and Death
Manuel Nicolás Arízaga Machuca was a staunch patriot and an uncompromising advocate for his beliefs, which led him to both glory and hardship. He was a prominent figure in Ecuadorian literature and politics, recognized for his sharp wit, romantic poetry, and passionate involvement in national affairs. He passed away on December 28, 1906, at the age of 50, due to complications from cirrhosis.
He left behind a legacy as a patriot, intellectual, and defender of conservative values. His works, including numerous articles, poems, and political writings, contributed significantly to Ecuadorian literary and political thought during a turbulent period in the nation’s history. His widow and children lived in poverty after his death, a testament to his life’s struggles against political oppression and personal hardship.
Poem
Fotografía
Me asomé a los abismos de mi pecho
y profundos y lóbregos los vi;
tanto, niña, que en lágrimas deshecho,
horrorizado de mí mismo huí.
Luego admiré tu célica hermosura,
la gracia virginal de tu candor
y de mi pecho en la región oscura
sentí desconocido resplandor.
Torné a mirar adentro y hallé impresa
en el alma tu imagen de cristal,
estrella que ilumina helada huesa,
flor nacida en estéril cambromal.
Ya un altar en mi pecho has conquistado
y en él tendrás eterna adoración;
allí de hinojos vivirá postrado,
fiel ministro de amor, mi corazón.
Known Works
Poetry
- Adiós – 1876 (Published in La Luciérnaga)
- Mi Musa – 1876 (Published in La Luciérnaga)
- Himno de Guerra contra Veintemilla – 1878
- A la Justicia – 1883 (Won literary contest organized by the Rocafuerte Committee, Guayaquil)
- A Sucre – 1892 (Published in Revista Ecuatoriana)
- Pro Patria – 1897 (Part of Voces del Destierro)
- En honor al General Antonio Vega Muñoz – 1906 (Final work, written after meeting General Vega Muñoz)
Drama
- La Expósita – 1878 (Three-act play in verse, performed but not published)
Memorial Writings
- A la memoria de la señora Dolores Borrero de Vega – 1880 (Memorial piece, 8 pages)
- A la memoria del Dr. José Rafael Arízaga – 1890 (Memorial piece dedicated to his father)
Essays and Political Pamphlets
- Breves observaciones a los racionalistas – 1895–1896 (Published in five parts; a defense of Church rights)
- Caín – 1903 (Published under the pseudonym Vindex, 53 pages)
Collections
- Voces del Destierro – 1897 (Poetry collection, published in exile, includes Pro Patria)
- Poesías de Manuel Nicolás Arizaga – 1959 (Posthumous poetry collection with a prologue by Víctor Manuel Albornoz)
Translations
- Translations of Longfellow’s poetry – Circa 1885 (Translated while living in Brooklyn, U.S., unpublished)
Journalism and Newspaper Contributions
- El Independiente – 1875
- El Cuencano – 1875
- El Crepúsculo – 1876
- La Luciérnaga – 1876
- El Correo del Azuay – 1881
- La Unión Literaria – 1888 onward
- El Diario de Avisos – Late 1880s
- La Opinión Pública – Late 1880s
- Revista Ecuatoriana – 1889–1892
- El Gladiador – 1883 (Collaborated with Leonidas Pallares Arteta)
- El Mensajero – 1897 (Co-edited with Armando Abad Jáuregui and Mariano Prado Orrego)
- El Proscrito – Circa 1897–1898 (Founded in exile, published in Lima and Piura)
References
- Google Books, Poesías de Manuel Nicolás Arízaga. Retrieved on October 21, 2024. Click to view.
- Rodolfo Pérez Pimentel, Manuel Nicolás Arízaga Machuca. Retrieved on October 21, 2024. Click to view.
- Scribd, Poemas Ecuatorianos. Retrieved on October 21, 2024. Click to view.
- DSpace at Universidad de Cuenca, Manuel Nicolás Arízaga Machuca. Retrieved on October 21, 2024. Click to view.