Today, November 7, marks a new anniversary of the death of Colonel Pedro Castelli, an outstanding figure in Argentine history, whose life was marked by his deep commitment to independence and justice. In 1839, Castelli paid with his life the price of resistance against tyranny, leaving a legacy that still today inspires those who value freedom and the defense of democratic principles.

Pedro Castelli was born on May 13, 1796 in Buenos Aires. Son of the member of the First Junta, Dr. Juan José Castelli, and María Rosa Lynch. His youth was spent in the midst of the turbulent struggles for South American independence.

In 1812 he joined the Regiment of Horse Grenadiers created by General San Martín, and at the age of 16 he had his baptism of fire in the Combat of San Lorenzo, action for which he was promoted to lieutenant. In time, he became an important protagonist in the history of the internal struggles that divided the country in the first half of the 19th century.

In 1839, Colonel Castelli joined the resistance against the regime of Juan Manuel de Rosas, leading the movement of the “Libres del Sur”, an uprising organized in the south of the province of Buenos Aires that sought to overthrow the central power of Rosas.

In October of that same year, Castelli assumed the leadership of a troop of 3,000 gauchos, supported in Buenos Aires by officer Ramón Maza, another Rosas dissident. The resistance arose in the midst of a serious economic crisis caused by the blockade of the French fleet in the Río de la Plata, which incited discontent among the landowners and the rural sectors of the region.

In spite of the bravery of these men, the plan collapsed before the overwhelming Rosista force, and the movement did not achieve the expected success. On November 7, Castelli's troops were defeated in the Battle of the Lagoon of Chascomús, and he was captured in the Lagoon El Durazno. Without trial and without clemency, he was beheaded by the soldier Juan Durán and his head sent to the military commander of Dolores, who ordered it to be exhibited in the public square, now called Plaza Castelli.

His death was a tragic example of the intolerance of that time, and a painful sample of the cost that many patriots had to pay in their fight against tyranny. To remember Pedro Castelli is to pay homage to those who, with courage and sacrifice, have fought to build a just and free nation.