Biography
He was the fourth child of Brazilians Francisco Saraiva and Pulpicia da Rosa (his surname was later Hispanicized to “Saravia”). Aparicio was raised and educated mostly in the countryside, although he also had some higher education. At his father's death the Saravia brothers inherited a vast estate, called Estancia El Cordobés, situated in the department of Cerro Largo, which is on the frontier with the Brazilian state Rio Grande Do Sul.
Given that at that time the political frontiers between Brazil and Uruguay were not clearly delineated, the Saravia brothers had very close ties to Rio Grande do Sul, as well as with the revolutionary movements in that state.
Aparicio Saravia began his military activities at a very young age. He is believed to have participated in the so-called “Revolution of the Lances” (Revolución de las Lanzas) (1870–1872) led by Timoteo Aparicio against the government of Lorenzo Batlle y Grau, the father of José Batlle y Ordóñez (a future political rival of Saravia’s).
In 1875, with two of his brothers, he participated in the Tricolor Revolution (Revolución Tricolor) under Ángel Muñiz. In 1877, he married Cándida Díaz, niece of a Colorado Party leader; Díaz had had to flee from home because her parents opposed the union.
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