Francisco Solano López

Born in 1826, Francisco Solano López was the first son of Carlos Antonio López, a member of a prestige family of Assuncíon.In 1844 his father became Paraguay's President and López was raised to inherit the government of his country.

At the age of eighteen he became Brigadier General of the Paraguayan Army. From this point his father made him responsible for the modernization of the Paraguayan Forces.

Observers noted that one of most important experience of his life was his stay in Paris in the year of 1853, during his trip to Europe to buy arms.

There Solano López observed the intrigues, trappings and pretensions of Europe's countries foreign policy. In particular he became very impressed by Napoleon III, Emperor of France.

When he returned to Paraguay he was not alone. Elisa Alicia Lynch, an Irish woman he met in Paris, was with him. After López father's death in 1862 and the consolidation of power, she became a person of enormous influence in Paraguay. She bore López five sons.

Immediately after Solano López achieved power, the relations with the neighbors countries begin to deteriorate. The main problem was the disputed lands with Brazil and the influence he reputed excessive of the Empire on La Plata Region.

It does not mean that Solano López was responsible for the war. Its causes were complex and have to do with the historical animosity between the new countries inherited from Portugal and Spain. The fac, however, t is that at the end of his policy maneuvers, two traditional enemies joined together in order to put an end to  his government.

Solano López, El Supremo, President of the Paraguayan Republic (1862-1870)

Still today, Solano López is a controversial figure. For some, his foreign policy was a complete disaster. He undertook a war he could not win. His anxiety for recognition led to miscalculations and errors, which resulted in Paraguay's submersion as a free country for at least a decade.

For others, he was a hero, a patriot who resisted to  Argentina and Brazil aggressive plans of isolating Paraguay. A man who mobilized the nation for a five years war against powerful enemies.

Despite the different opinions, one fact is true: he fought until the last breath. On March 1, 1870, he was killed in the last action of the war.

Elisa Lynch buried Solano López with her own hands.