Legacy Francisco Solano López

a bust of solano lópez in asunción

there debate within paraguay whether fearless leader led troops end, or whether foolishly led paraguay war never possibly win, , eliminated country map. debate not helped revisionist stance taken stroessner regime, regarding national history. conversely, considered latin americans champion rights of smaller nations against imperialism of more powerful neighbors. example, eduardo galeano argues , father continued work of josé gaspar rodríguez de francia in defending paraguay country foreign capital had not deformed .

there ongoing debate in paraguay among historians regarding lópez s final words. 2 versions muero por mi patria ( die nation ) or muero con mi patria ( die nation ). (if latter may have been based on testament of luís de camões.) in case, regarding event juan silvano godoi wrote:

marshal lópez died profoundly convinced that, along him, independence of paraguay disappear. acquired conviction upon learning allies had organized in asuncion temporary government made of paraguayans had taken arms against government , fought triple alliance army.

death of francisco solano lópez in river aquidabán, during battle of cerro corá.

1 march national holiday in paraguay, called dia de los heroes (heroes day), held in honor of lópez s memory. important holiday in country next independence day. date, lópez considered greatest paraguayan national hero , remains located @ panteon de los heroes (national pantheon of heroes) in asunción. customary in asunción when historically worth celebrating happens (such victory of former president lugo in 2008 elections), people flock flags street in front of pantheon , celebrate event.

in 2007, argentine president cristina kirchner named argentinean military unit after marshal francisco solano lópez. 2nd armored artillery group. during ceremony, national anthems of both nations sung , high-ranking officers of both armies present. chief of argentine army gave speech @ event in stated: talking paraguayan army , argentine army talking of 1 , same thing. today, in argentine army, honored visit of paraguay s army commandant, working intensely in fulfilling dream of fathers of our nation. of men wanted build great nation, general san martín and, precisely, marshal lópez. . afterwards, lieutenant general bendini said:

marshall lópez inspired in men spirit , love land made them prefer die rather surrendering. example of leader is, driver, man knows how reach people. sure men of artillery group take example of brave paraguayan soldier , deemed worthy of name unit carries.

at end of ceremony, paraguayan army commandant presented unit portrait of lópez. commenting on this, leader in buenos aires la nación newspaper under headline absurd tribute dictator said:

naming military unit after dictator trampled on [argentine] flag absurd if france or poland called 1 of regiments adolf hitler .

the paraguayan president s office called palacio de lópez (lopez s palace) built lópez before war home. however, never finished until after war over, never resided in it.

the life of lópez basis play visions louis nowra.