José Gervasio Artigas was a Latin American revolutionary, considered the national hero of Uruguay.
One of the most renowned smugglers of his time, Artigas lead a popular armed movement which secured the independence of current Uruguay from Spain. However and due to conflicts with the Buenos Aires revolutionary junta, Artigas was treasoned and forced into exile by a Brazilian intervention.
While the central revolutionary government aimed at creating a unitary state which would rule all of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile on a european liberal basis, Artigas was in favor of a federalist Latin American empire which would comprise all Spanish speaking territories. His reclaims of regional autonomy, protectionism, land reform and democracy made him an enemy of argentine revolutionaries and politicians, who didn't support his project.
His figure was widely condemned in Uruguay until 1870s, when he was reivindicated by various political figures. Nowadays he is considered as the greatest "Prócer" (national hero) of Uruguay.
This version of this popular song was sang by Mario Carrero and Eduardo Larbanois, and written by Ruben Lena. The videos used belong to the Canal Encuentro argentine series.
