He is regarded as one of the main Libertadores of the country. He came into contact with the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment while at university in Spain around the time of the French Revolution. This rejection led him to work towards a greater autonomy for his country from the Spanish colonial regime.
At first, he unsuccessfully promoted the aspirations of Carlota Joaquina to become a regent ruler for the Viceroyalty during the period the Spanish King Ferdinand VII was imprisoned during the Peninsular War β He was elected as a voting member of the Primera Junta that took power after the ouster.
As a delegate for the Junta, he led the ill-fated Paraguay campaign. Though he was defeated, the campaign initiated the chain of events that led to the Independence of Paraguay in May He retreated to the vicinity of Rosario , to fortify it against a possible royalist attack from the Eastern Band of the Uruguay River. While there, he created the flag of Argentina. The First Triumvirate did not approve the flag, but because of slow communications, Belgrano would only learn of that many weeks later, while reinforcing the Army of the North at Jujuy.
Belgrano then went on a diplomatic mission to Europe along with Bernardino Rivadavia to seek support for the revolutionary government.
He promoted the Inca plan to create a constitutional monarchy with an Inca descendant as Head of State. Belgrano died of dropsy on 20 June His father Domenico was Ligurian , from the town of Imperia , Italy. He changed his name "Domenico" to the Spanish "Domingo" as well.
