Augusto Bernardino Leguía y Salcedo, born on February 19, 1863, in Lambayeque, is one of the most significant and controversial political figures in Peruvian history. He served as president of Peru twice: from 1908 to 1912 and again from 1919 to 1930. His second presidency, often referred to as "El Oncenio" due to its 11-year duration, was marked by strong centralization of power and the modernization of the country, but also by increasing authoritarianism.
Leguía came from a wealthy family and studied in Peru before moving to the United States, where he worked in the insurance sector. Upon his return to Peru, he entered politics and gained attention for his administrative skills and modernizing vision. He became Minister of Finance under President José Pardo and was elected president in 1908.
During his first term (1908–1912), Leguía implemented significant reforms, including promoting foreign investment and developing infrastructure, such as roads and railways. However, his first presidency was also marked by growing political opposition, especially from conservative factions, and he was not re-elected.
In 1919, Leguía returned to power through a coup d'état against the elected president, José Pardo. He then began his second and longer term, during which he consolidated his power in an authoritarian manner. Under his regime, he reformed the constitution in 1920 and ruled with an iron fist, suppressing political opponents and centralizing executive power. However, his government also brought significant modernization to the country, with reforms in education, transportation, and the economy. Leguía encouraged foreign investment, particularly from the United States, to modernize infrastructure and boost the Peruvian economy.
His government signed several controversial treaties, such as the Salomón-Lozano Treaty (1922) with Colombia and the Treaty of Lima (1929) with Chile, which ended certain territorial conflicts but sparked national opposition.
Despite economic successes and modernization efforts, El Oncenio was characterized by the extreme concentration of power in Leguía’s hands and repression of dissent. Opposition to his regime grew over the years, especially among intellectuals and young activists, some of whom joined emerging political movements like APRA (American Popular Revolutionary Alliance), founded by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre.
In 1930, as the country faced an economic crisis caused by the global Great Depression, Leguía was overthrown in a military coup led by Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro. He was imprisoned and spent the remainder of his life in detention. He died in 1932 while still in captivity.
Augusto B. Leguía remains a divisive figure in Peruvian history: admired for his modernizing reforms and efforts to develop the country, but criticized for his authoritarian regime and disregard for democratic freedoms.