Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez

Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez led a military coup that overthrew President Arturo Araujo. He established a dictatorship that lasted until 1944, ruling El Salvador with an iron fist and suppressing dissent through violence.

Martinez ordered the military to suppress a peasant and indigenous uprising in western El Salvador. The army killed an estimated 10,000 to 40,000 people, mostly Pipil indigenous people, in what became known as La Matanza. This event consolidated his power and terrorized the population.

Martinez, a follower of theosophy, enacted policies based on his esoteric beliefs. He banned certain foods, promoted spiritualism, and claimed to communicate with spirits. These policies were widely ridiculed but reflected his unique ideological influence on governance.

A nationwide general strike, led by students, professionals, and workers, forced Martinez to resign and flee El Salvador. The strike was a rare example of nonviolent resistance ending a dictatorship in Central America.