# General Santa Coloma — The Purple Land character guide

> General Santa Coloma in The Purple Land by W. H. Hudson.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Santa Coloma

**First appearance:** 0011-x-matters-relating-to-the-republic

## Snapshot

The long-awaited saviour of Uruguay, whose name is a rallying cry for revolution and whose arrival at El Molino sets the country alight.

## Who they are

Santa Coloma seizes El Molino del Yí and raises the standard of revolt against the government of Montevideo, and the mere rumor of his coming drives men like Alday to their knees in prayer and sends them riding through the night just to touch him. He is a magnetic leader with a keen, searching eye, offering Richard a commission and a friendship that survives the younger man's blunt criticism of the campaign. His refusal to accept a mere guerrilla war, and his insistence that they must ride on Montevideo, give the middle of the book its political momentum and its uneasy sense of a cause larger than any one man.

## Relationships

### [Barbudo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/characters/barbudo)

_rivalry_

Barbudo and General Santa Coloma are political rivals vying for power and influence in the region.

### [Barbudo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/characters/barbudo)

_rivalry_

Barbudo and General Santa Coloma are political rivals vying for power and influence in the region.

## In the story

### [III: Materials for a Pastoral](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/chapters/iii-materials-for-a-pastoral)

Not present in this chapter.

### [XIII: Barking Dogs and Shouting Rebels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/chapters/xiii-barking-dogs-and-shouting-rebels)

Mentioned as the leader of the rebellion who has seized El Molino del Yí; his name is the rallying cry of the rebels.

### [When the Trumpet Calls to Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/chapters/xv-when-the-trumpet-calls-to-battle)

Recognizes Lamb as the man who helped him escape, entrusts him to Dolores Zelaya's care.

### [XVI: Romance of the White Flower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/chapters/xvi-romance-of-the-white-flower)

Revered by Dolores and Doña Mercedes as a leader of the rebellion; Richard is associated with him.

### [XVIII: Rest on Thy Rock, Andromeda!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/chapters/xviii-rest-on-thy-rock-andromeda)

Leads the rebellion, advises Richard, and commands the cavalry charge.

### [Tales of the Purple Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/chapters/xix-tales-of-the-purple-land)

Mentioned as possibly having escaped and being a wanderer again.

### [XX: A Ghastly Gift](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/chapters/xx-a-ghastly-gift)

Mentioned as having advised Lamb to proceed to Rocha in case of defeat.

### [Goodbye to the Purple Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/chapters/xxviii-goodbye-to-the-purple-land)

Invoked as a symbol of chivalrous instinct that Lamb hopes will endure in the land.

### [Back to Buenos Aires](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/chapters/xxix-back-to-buenos-aires)

Disguised as an old gaucho on the ship; questions Richard about Demetria; recognized by Demetria.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/characters/general_santa_coloma
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_purple_land_se/characters