Pedro Santana, a brilliant military strategist, and…

Pedro Santana, a brilliant military strategist, and a key figure in the successful separation of the Dominican Republic from Haiti, has held the office of the presidency during the years 1844-1848, 1853-1856, and 1858-1861.

At this time, both the ruler and a portion of the ruled are sufficiently concerned about the possibility either of a renewed attack from Haiti or of domestic economic collapse to find the prospect of annexation attractive.

In Spain, the ruling Liberal Union of General Leopoldo O'Donnell has been advocating renewed imperial expansion, and the Civil War in the United States has lessened the Spanish fear of retaliation from the north.

Upon the the resumption, by invitation, of Spanish authority in Santo Domingo, the nation’s independent status had become forfeit on March 17, 1861, when Santana announced the annexation of the Dominican Republic by Spain.

Support for annexation does not run as deep as Santana and his clique had represented to the Spanish, however.

The first rebellion against Spanish rule had broken out in May 1861, but was quashed in short order.

A better organized revolt, under the leadership of the baecista General Sánchez, had sprungup only a month later.

Santana, now bearing the title of captain general of the Province of Santo Domingo, is forced to take to the field against his own countrymen as the representative of a foreign power.

The wily Santana lures Sánchez into an ambush, where he is captured and executed.