Person
Balanzat de Orvay Briones, Ignacio (1773-1837)Other forms
Eivissa (Ibiza, Illes Balears, España) 1773-08-08 - Madrid (España) 1837-10-30
Field marshal, Minister of War and government representative. Son of Mariano Balanzat Orvay and Ignacia Briones. In 1789, he joined the infantry regiment of Extremadura as a cadet. He was in the Spanish conquest of Orán (1790-1791), as well as in the surrender of Rosas (1795) in the War of Convention. In 1798, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and was deployed to the Infantry Regiment of Naples.
He joined de Army of Extremadura in the Peninsular War, taking part in the victory of Albuhera against the French and later being recognized as a meritorious member of the mother country. He received the Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand. Since 1815 he was granted with the title of Field Marshal.
In the Trienio Liberal (Liberal Triennium) he was working as Secretary at the Despacho Universal de la Guerra, General Inspector of Infantry and, later on, Minister of War and Government Representative substitute by the Balearic Islands. In 1826, he was cleansed, and after the death of Ferdinand VII he came back to his political and military occupations. As such, in 1833, he was appointed General Inspector of all infantry's departments, and in 1835, War Adviser. He was married to María Baranda Cagigal.
Date of the event: 1820 - 1823