Máximo Gómez
Dominican Major General / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Máximo Gómez y Báez (November 18, 1836 – June 17, 1905) was a Cuban-Dominican Generalissimo in Cuba's War of Independence (1895–1898). He was known for his controversial scorched-earth policy, which entailed dynamiting passenger trains and torching the Spanish loyalists' property and sugar plantations—including many owned by Americans.[3] He greatly increased the efficacy of the attacks by torturing and killing not only Spanish soldiers, but also Spanish sympathizers and especially Cubans loyal to Spain.[4] By the time the Spanish–American War broke out in April 1898, the rebellion was virtually defeated in most of Western Cuba, with only a few operating pockets in the center and the east. He refused to join forces with the Spanish in fighting off the United States, and he retired to the Quinta de los Molinos, a luxury villa outside of Havana after the war's end formerly used by captains generals as summer residence.
Máximo Gomez | |
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Born | (1836-11-18)November 18, 1836 Baní, Dominican Republic,Haitian occupation |
Died | June 17, 1905(1905-06-17) (aged 68) Havana, La Havana, Cuba |
Allegiance | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Service/ | Army |
Years of service | 1852 – 1905 |
Rank | Generalissimo[1] |
Battles/wars | Dominican War of Independence
Dominican Restoration War |