In 1827 Rivadavia’s Government fell, and after a while Manuel Dorrego, a gifted soldier and politician, found himself at the head of the State.  Peace was now signed with Brazil, but on terms which the great majority of the Argentines resented bitterly, and the unrest in the Republic rapidly came to a head.  Dorrego was opposed by General Lavalle, one of the most famous personalities of the period.  Both parties resorted to arms.  Dorrego’s force was defeated and its leader captured.  On this Lavalle, a brilliant and liberal-minded man, committed the gravest error of his career—­one, moreover, the nature of which was entirely foreign to his character—­for, after capturing Dorrego, he executed his prisoner.  Reasons of State were the cause of this political crime, since no personal animosity was involved.

This act was fiercely resented by Dorrego’s party in general.  It brought upon Lavalle more particularly the enmity of Juan Manuel Rosas, the man of blood and iron, whose fierce star had now begun its definite ascent.  An active warfare took place between the two, and although it was interrupted now and again by truces, these were of short duration, and the struggle continued almost without intermission until the death of Lavalle in 1840, when fleeing after his ultimate defeat at the hands of the opposing party.  This, however, is to anticipate somewhat, since it was as early as 1829 that Rosas first took charge of the Argentine Government.  While this famous leader was in the act of gradually consolidating his power, the country had become divided into two main parties—­the Federals and the Unitarians.

[Illustration:  STATUE OF GENERAL MANUEL BELGRANO.]

Rosas stood as the chief of the Federal party, while Lavalle and his colleagues represented the Unitarians.  After a while it became evident that, so far as the capital was concerned, the influence of Rosas was supreme, and it was not long before Buenos Aires began to feel the weight of that grim personage’s hand.  Very soon a reign of terror commenced.  The alarmed citizens discovered that all personal security was now at an end, and that the laws of the Constitution were replaced by the enactments and degrees made at the will of Rosas.  All this time the latter was strengthening his position, and when the dreaded leader succeeded in establishing himself firmly in the Dictator’s chair, the severity of his rule increased still more.  He laid down laws, not only concerning public affairs, but also affecting the intimate private life of the citizens.  Red being the Dictator’s favourite colour, it followed in his mind that the nation must mould itself upon his tastes completely.  Thus every citizen of Buenos Aires, in order to show his loyalty to the autocratic Governor, was obliged to wear a rosette or band of red.