Biografía de Ricardo Burguete

Ricardo Burguete y Lana: Military Man and Prolific Writer

Ricardo Burguete y Lana was a notable figure in Spanish history as both a military man and a prolific writer. Born in Zaragoza on February 3, 1871, Burguete had a distinguished career in the Spanish military, as well as making significant contributions to Spanish literature, particularly in the realm of military theory and history.

Military Career: From Cuba to Marruecos

Burguete began his military career when he was assigned to the military academy in Toledo in 1885, ultimately graduating in 1891. His first taste of combat came in the Cuban campaign of 1895, and he was again involved in battle when he was deployed to the Philippines in 1896. His bravery and valor during these campaigns earned him the rank of captain in 1896 and a promotion to commander in 1897, as well as the prestigious Laureada de San Fernando award, the highest military honor in Spain.

Over the following decades, Burguete continued to rise through the military ranks, serving in various campaigns and gaining a reputation as a competent and respected leader. He participated in the War of Africa and was promoted to colonel in 1910. Later, in 1917, during a period of heavy civil unrest in Spain, he led the repression of the general strike in Asturias while serving as the governor military of Oviedo. In 1922, he became the High Commissioner of Spain in Marruecos, a post he held for a year before resigning due to disagreements with the government over the handling of the war in the region.

His career culminated in the posts of Captain General of the 6th Military Region (Burgos) and the 1st Military Region (Madrid), as well as Director General of the Guardia Civil, a position he held from 1925 to 1928. He then became President of the Supreme War and Navy Council, a position he held until his death in 1937.

Literary Contributions: Military Theory and History

Burguete’s literary contributions were particularly noteworthy, with the majority of his publications centering on military theory and history. His first works, Hágase ejército: estudios tácticos al alcance de todos and Hágase éjercito: Infanteria, Caballeria y Artilleria, were published in 1899 under the pseudonym Critón. Later, in 1902, he published ¡La guerra! Cuba (diario de un testigo) and ¡La guerra! Filipinas (memorias de un herido) under his own name. These works provided a firsthand account of the military conflicts he had participated in, and were widely read and acclaimed.

In 1902, Burguete became involved in the regenerationist movement in Spain, spurred by the disastrous Spanish-American War. He was also associated with a group of like-minded writers and intellectuals, including Azorín, Unamuno, Maeztu, and Baroja, and is sometimes considered part of the «military generation of ’98.»

In the years that followed, Burguete continued to write and publish extensively, producing works on a wide variety of military topics, from battle strategy and tactics to military history and theory. Some of his most noteworthy works include ¡La guerra!: Fundamentos del combate moderno (1903), Preparación de las tropas para la guerra (Nuevo Vegecio): estudios de ética militar (1905), El problema militar: 200.000 soldados: más de cincuenta millones de economía (1905), and Morbo nacional: vida defensiva (1906).

His later works included La ciencia militar ante la guerra europea: su evolución y transformación hasta el presente y el porvenir (1917) and Rectificaciones históricas: de Guadalete a Covadonga y primer siglo de la reconquista de Asturias (1915). In all, he published over thirty works on military-related subjects.

Personal Life: Family and Tragedy

Burguete’s personal life was marked by both triumph and tragedy. He was married and had three sons, all of whom followed in their father’s military footsteps. Tragically, Burguete survived all three of his sons
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– 1871: Nace en Zaragoza el día 3 de febrero
– 1895: Destinado a Cuba. Es herido en los combates
– 1897: Nuevamente herido. Obtiene la Cruz Laureada de San Fernando. Asciende a comandante por méritos de guerra
– 1909-1910: Participa en la Guerra de África. Asciende a coronel por méritos de guerra
– 1922: Es nombrado Alto Comisario de España en Marruecos
– 1925-1928: Director General de la Guardia Civil
– 1937: Fallece en Valencia, el día 30 de marzo
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