The Captaincy General of Santo Domingo and the War of Reconquest
The island of Hispaniola served as a key outpost throughout the colonial period and housed the Audiencia of Santo Domingo—the first in the Americas (established in 1511)—whose jurisdiction extended across the entire Caribbean. In 1697, the Peace of Ryswick divided the island into two communities: the Spanish in the east and the French in the west. This arrangement lasted until 1795, when sovereignty over the western part of the island was ceded to France under the Treaty of Basel; Spanish sovereignty was subsequently restored in 1808. The territory declared independence in 1821, was occupied by Haiti in 1822, regained its freedom in 1844, and was reincorporated into Spain in 1861 by a decision of its own leaders, before finally establishing itself as an independent republic in 1865.
Due to these political upheavals and fluctuations, as well as its strategic location, Santo Domingo has a long and complex military history. Externally, the island’s experience during this period was characterized by a rational defense strategy and relative calm regarding international conflicts fought on its soil. Internally, however, the border between Spanish and French territories—a vague and poorly defined North-South line—was a zone of constant friction and conflict.
Deployment of militia units in the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo as of 1721:
| Infantry |
C.th |
Captains |
Ensigns |
Sargeants |
Cor. Of. |
Corporal |
Soldiers |
Total |
|---|
| Santo Domingo |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
36 |
18 |
439 |
508 |
| San Carlos |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
9 |
119 |
137 |
| San Lorenzo de los Negros Mina |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
96 |
118 |
| Santiago |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
28 |
19 |
561 |
626 |
| La Vega |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
312 |
334 |
| Cotuí |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
135 |
149 |
| Hincha |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
190 |
205 |
| Bánica |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
127 |
138 |
| Azua |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
206 |
226 |
| Higüey |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
54 |
60 |
| El Seibo |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
162 |
181 |
| Bayaguana |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
78 |
86 |
| Monte Plata |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
60 |
67 |
| Total |
31 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
97 |
106 |
2539 |
2835 |
| Cavalry |
C.th |
Captains |
Ensigns |
Sargeants |
Cor. Of. |
Corporal |
Soldiers |
Total |
| Santo Domingo |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
74 |
89 |
| Santiago |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
49 |
55 |
| Azua |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
53 |
60 |
| Total |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
176 |
204 |
| Total General |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3039 |
In 1738, the "Reglamento para la guarnición de la plaza de Santo Domingo, en la isla Española, castillos y fuertes de su jurisdicción" "Regulations for the garrison of the stronghold of Santo Domingo, on the island of Hispaniola, and the castles and forts within its jurisdiction" were promulgated. The aim was to rectify many flaws observed in the army stationed on the island, such as: unequal company staffing (with surpluses in some and shortages in others); pay discrepancies among officers of the same rank—including the paradox of some soldiers earning more than sergeants; a lack of uniformity in military attire; and insufficient orders to ensure discipline. To remedy these deficiencies, the Regulations established, among others, the following provisions:
Creation of the Batallón Fijo (Permanent Battalion) comprising 637 men—including sergeants and drummers—deemed necessary for a vigorous defense. It would consist of seven infantry companies (one being a grenadier company), one artillery company, and two cavalry companies, replacing the Northern and Southern Troops.
Equal salaries commensurate with rank and command, plus additional bonuses for officers and non-commissioned officers if their companies maintained a specific number of soldiers. No individual of enlisted or non-commissioned rank could hold two positions or draw two salaries.
Authorization for half the men in each company to be natives of the island, provided they met the following requirements: descent from Peninsular Spaniards, bachelor status, no other occupation (exclusive dedication to the army was mandated for all Armed Forces members), residence in the barracks, and performance of service on equal terms with those from Spain.
Drafting age: sixteen for those born in Spain and twenty for criollos (locally born Spaniards).
The militia cavalry was placed under the command of the senior captain of the two newly formed frontier cavalry companies.
Standardization of uniforms, with each company featuring distinct insignia. A requirement for a certain level of education (literacy) to qualify as a non-commissioned officer.
The establishment of an academy to train soldiers, with the aim of producing well-prepared military personnel. The curriculum was to include military architecture, the defense and assault of strongholds, weapons handling, battalion and squadron formation, geometry, trigonometry, cosmography, navigation, and other disciplines useful for service at sea and on land, as specified in the aforementioned Regulation.
From 1916 to 1924, the United States occupied the Dominican Republic under the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, disbanding existing militias and establishing a Dominican Constabulary Guard trained by U.S. Marines, which contributed to the later development of the Dominican Army.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the army under Rafael Trujillo numbered approximately 3,500–5,800 troops.
In the late 1940s, a small arms factory was established in San Cristóbal, near Santo Domingo. By the late 1950s, the Dominican Republic had achieved near self-sufficiency in the production of small arms. However, after the assassination of Trujillo in 1961, this capacity declined.
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