General Mariano Melgarejo Valencia (1864-71) seizes the…

General Mariano Melgarejo Valencia (1864-71) seizes the Bolivian presidency in late 1864, and becomes the most notorious of Bolivia's caudillos.

Relying primarily on the military, he remains in power for more than six years despite his mismanagement, drunkenness, and corruption, as well as constant intrigues against him.

Hoping to improve the economy by opening up the country to foreigners, Melgarejo signs a series of treaties with Chile and Peru for free trade.

In an 1867 treaty with Brazil to secure water rights to the Atlantic Ocean, he cedes 102,400 square kilometers of territory, hoping to break Bolivia's isolation.