History

The Order of Augusto Cesar Sandino was founded in honor of Augusto C. Sandino, who fought the U. S. Marine occupation of Nicaragua in 1927. He is cataloged as the highest national hero within the country. The Order was founded by the new government of the Junta of National Reconstruction (Junta de Gobierno de Reconstrucción Nacional) which rules the country from 1979 to 1985. It is awarded to either national and foreign civilians, and military personnel, in recognition of extraordinary services rendered to the country and humankind.

The Order has three grades, each named for an important battle of Nicaragua's history. The first grade is called the Battle of San Jacinto, this engagement between the troops commanded by General José Estrada and the troops under command of the American filibuster William Walker, ended up with the triumph of the former in 1857. The second grade is called Battle of Coyotepe which took place in 1912 between U.S. Marine and Nicaragua nationalists opposed to American invention. The third grade is named Battle of Ocotal, an engagement fought in 1927 between U.S. Marine and August Cesar Sandino, where the later attacked the garrison of Ocotal, which was held by US Marines and Nicaraguan National Guards, starting with this the Nicaraguan war against American invading troops.

Augusto Cesar Sandino was a Nicaraguan revolutionary and leader of a rebellion of 1927 and 1933 against the U.S. military occupation of Nicaragua. His exploits made him a hero throughout Latin America, where he became a symbol of resistance to United States' domination. He was murdered by two officers of the National Guard commanded by Anastasio Somoza García in 1934.