May Revolution: Buenos Aires expels Viceroy Cisneros and establishes the Primera Junta
- When
- 1810
- Where
- Cabildo of Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires
- Episodes
- 2
The May Revolution occurred in Buenos Aires from 18 to 25 May 1810. Following the dissolution of the Supreme Central Junta, an open cabildo on 22 May demanded the removal of Viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros. On 25 May, the Primera Junta was established as the first local government, initially composed only of Buenos Aires representatives.
Episodes
- Open Cabildo Decision
On 22 May 1810, the open cabildo decided to end Cisneros' mandate and establish a government junta, rejecting his attempt to remain president.
- Establishment of the Primera Junta
The Primera Junta was formed on 25 May 1810, initially consisting only of Buenos Aires representatives, inviting other cities to join.
Background and detail
Background. King Ferdinand VII's abdication in 1808 and the subsequent fall of the Supreme Central Junta created a power vacuum. Viceroy Cisneros attempted to maintain the status quo, but political activity in Buenos Aires intensified. The dissolution of the Junta in January 1810, reported in May, prompted local leaders to establish a government, viewing the moment as opportune for self-governance.
The Open Cabildo. On 22 May 1810, an open cabildo convened in Buenos Aires. This extraordinary meeting of municipal council and notables was pressured by militias and crowds gathering at the Plaza Mayor. The assembly decided to end Cisneros' mandate, rejecting his attempt to retain power as president of a new junta, and demanded his resignation.
Formation of the Primera Junta. The Primera Junta was formed on 25 May 1810. It initially included only representatives from Buenos Aires, inviting other cities to send delegates. The Junta governed in the name of Ferdinand VII but did not pledge allegiance to the Council of Regency, asserting its authority through popular sovereignty.
People involved
- Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros · Viceroy
- Cornelio Saavedra · Political figure active in Buenos Aires in the pre-revolution period
- Mariano Moreno · Lawyer (named in pre-revolution context)
- Juan José Castelli · Figure associated with the May Revolution in revisionist historiography
- Juan José Paso · Lawyer (named in pre-revolution resistance context)
Sources
- May Revolution Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-06
- Primera Junta Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-22
- Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros Wikipedia, revision of 2026-04-04
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.