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Antonio Maceo, whose full name was José Antonio de la Caridad Maceo Grajales, was born on June 14, 1845 in Santiago de Cuba and died on December 7, 1896 in Punta Brava, Cuba. He was a Cuban general in the wars of independence from 1868 to 1898 and, together with Máximo Gómez, one of the most important military leaders in the war against the Spanish colonial power, which had occupied Cuba since 1492.
In 1878, the political leadership of the Cuban independence movement no longer saw any possibility of military success, which is why a peace treaty was signed with the Spanish occupiers. Antonio Maceo, who did not agree with this, put up resistance. His aim was to continue the struggle until the most important social goals of the revolution, such as the abolition of slavery, were achieved. He had to organize the resistance from exile because he was the target of racist propaganda because of his skin color. Maceo's ideas and determination had a significant influence on the Cuban revolution and inspired many to fight for the country's freedom.
In1881, "La Guerra Chiquita" (translated as "the little war") ended without success for the Cuban side. Together with Máximo Gómez, Maceo was persuaded by José Martí in 1895 to resume the fight against the Spanish colonial power.
From 1895 to 1898, the war of independence led by him led to a strong weakening of the Spanish colonial power, so that the United States of America was able to occupy Cuba in 1899 without major resistance (Spanish-American War).
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Maceo's military success was based on the fact that he extended the guerrilla war to the west of Cuba, where the most important economic resource of the Spanish occupying power was located, namely sugar production.
Originally, the war of independence was started by large landowners from the east, and Maceo added the component of social justice to this war.
Antonio Maceo died on December 7 , 1896 in Punta Brava, Cuba before the end of the War of Independence and, together with Máximo Gómez and José Martí, is considered one of Cuba's three most important national heroes for independence.
He was buried in the Cementerio Santa Ifigenia in Santiago de Cuba.
Maceo's portrait is depicted on the 5 CUP banknote.
There are monuments in Santiago de Cuba in the Plaza de la Revolución and in Havana on the Malecón in Parque Maceo near the"Hospital Hermanos Ameijaras", which is intended to commemorate Antonio Maceo.
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