Whatever Happened to Camilo Polavieja?


Camilo Polavieja y del Castillo, Marques de Polavieja (1838–1914)

Regarded as a villain in Philippine history for ordering the court-martial and subsequent execution of José Rizal, Governor-General Camilo de Polavieja had an illustrious career as a military officer. He assumed the position of Governor-General of the Philippines during a turbulent period, succeeding Governor-General Ramón Blanco y Arenas. Polavieja was notably favored by the powerful friar orders of the time.

It is said that when Doña Teodora, Rizal's mother, pleaded for her son’s life, she reportedly approached Malacañang Palace on bended knees. Upon meeting Polavieja, he coldly declared, "I cannot spare the life of this rebel while young Spanish soldiers are dying on the battlefields of Luzon." Another version of the story suggests that Doña Teodora and one of her daughters were merely dismissed at the palace gates without an audience.

Polavieja ultimately failed to pacify the Philippine Revolution. Rebel forces continued to hold parts of Cavite when he resigned his post, officially citing health reasons—a justification some considered a convenient excuse. He returned to Spain and briefly served as War Minister in the government of Francisco Silvela in 1899. Polavieja later became active in politics, leading a faction advocating for Spain's renewal following the so-called "Disaster of 1898." He was even implicated in a planned coup d'état.

During a visit to Gijón, a city renowned for its liberal and anarchist sentiments, Polavieja faced public protests. Demonstrators distributed leaflets containing José Rizal’s Mi Último Adiós, forcing his early departure.

Camilo de Polavieja died of hepatitis in January 1914. In Philippine history, he is remembered almost exclusively as the man responsible for Rizal’s execution, a legacy that overshadows all other aspects of his career.


Polavieja in Mexico 1910. As head of the Spanish delegation commemorating the "Centenario" of Mexico 1910. (Aurelio Escobar Castellanos Archive)


Polavieja funeral 1914
               








The photo features several generals of the Spanish Armed Forces during the Third Carlist War. At the center, marked with a red dot, is none other than Camilo García de Polavieja. Beside him, marked with a blue dot, is General José Marina Vega, who was raised and educated in the Philippines.

It is said that the friars orchestrated Rizal’s execution, yet the culture of "bravura," "machismo," and "camaraderie" within the Spanish Imperial military also played a significant role. It should not be forgotten that Rizal was sentenced by a military court—a kangaroo court. This same militaristic mentality would later contribute to the horrific Spanish Civil War.



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