Antonio López de Santa Anna (1794–1876) was a Mexican general, politician, and caudillo who served as the president of Mexico multiple times between 1833 and 1855. He was a central and controversial figure in 19th-century Mexican politics, often called an "uncrowned monarch" and associated with the turbulent decades following Mexican independence

. Santa Anna played key roles in several major events:

• He initially supported Mexican independence and fought against Spanish attempts to reconquer Mexico, notably defeating a Spanish expedition at Tampico in 1829, which made him a national hero known as the "Victor of Tampico" and the "Napoleon of the West"

• He was president during the Texas Revolution (1835–1836), personally leading Mexican forces. After victories at the Alamo and Goliad, he was defeated and captured at the Battle of San Jacinto, which led to Texas declaring independence

• He lost large territories to the United States following the Mexican-American War (1846–1848) and was forced to sell land in the Gadsden Purchase in 1853, which contributed to his unpopularity and exile

• Santa Anna was known for his shifting political alliances, authoritarian rule, and repeated returns to power through coups. He centralized power by discarding the 1824 constitution, which had granted states significant autonomy

Later in life, he lived in exile in several countries, attempted various business ventures, and returned to Mexico shortly before his death in 1876. He was buried with full military honors in Mexico City

. In summary, Santa Anna was a pivotal military and political leader in Mexico's early republican era, remembered for his military exploits, multiple presidencies, and his role in major conflicts such as the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War