Domènec Higuerue Vinyet

In this Salvadoran name, the first or paternal surname is Higuerue and the second or maternal surname is Vinyet.

Divisional General Domènec Higuerue Vinyet OSP RMS OSC HRLN
Official portrait, 1964
9th President of El Salvador
In office 1 November 1964 – 1 November 1984
Vice President	Llàtzer Nacenta Adrover (until 1979) Josep Esteba Treserra (from 1979)
Preceded by	Absaló Sancliment Launes
Succeeded by	Josep Esteba Treserra
15th Minister of Defense of El Salvador
In office 1 November 1959 – 1 November 1964
President	Adalbert Espasí Masrramon Absaló Sancliment Launes (1964)
Preceded by	Raül Cluselas Barjoan
Succeeded by	Pasqual Bañeres Blanco
23rd Speaker of the Tribunals Generals of El Salvador
In office 1 November 1985 – 1 November 1988
Preceded by	Jèred Santamaria Puigvent
Succeeded by	Isaac Viscarri Lleó
Deputy of the Tribunals Generals of El Salvador from Nou Hondures for Life
In office 1 November 1985 – 2 November 2001
6th Cabdill of the Salvadoran Initiative
In office 1 November 1964 – 1 November 1984
Preceded by	Absaló Sancliment Launes
Succeeded by	Josep Esteba Treserra
Personal details
Born	Domènec Alexandre Higuerue i Vinyet 24 October 1911 Sonsochapan, El Salvador
Died	2 November 2001(2001-11-02) (aged 90) San Miguel, Creeperopolis
Resting place	Ciutat dels Àngels, El Salvador
Nationality	Salvadoran
Political party	Salvadoran Initiative
Spouse(s)	Natàlia Xifró Gratacós (m. 1934; died 1985)
Children	5, including Domènec
Parents	Conradí Higuerue Amunategui Prudència Vinyet Gomis
Alma mater	Sonsochapan Military Academy
Occupation	Military officer, politician
Cabinet	Higuerue Vinyet cabinet
Military service
Nickname(s)	El Curt, El Greix
Allegiance	El Salvador
Branch/service	Salvadoran Army
Years of service	1928–1984
Rank	Divisional General
Commands	Salvadoran Armed Forces
Battles/wars	Salvadoran Civil War Battle of Ciutat dels Àngels Creeperian Civil War Battle of Santa Ana Rubicon War Operation Níspero Operation Genesis 3:15 Operation Saúl Desert War

Domènec Alexandre Higuerue i Vinyet, 1st Duke of Higuerue-Vinyet (24 October 1911 – 2 November 2001) was a Salvadoran military officer and politician who served as president of El Salvador from 1964 to 1984. He also served as the cabdill of the Salvadoran Initiative concurrently with his presidency, as the minister of defense from 1959 to 1964, and as the speaker of the Tribunals Generals from 1985 to 1988.

Higuerue Vinyet's presidency spanned the majority of the Rubicon War (1961–1976), during which, his government militarily supported Creeperopolis in its war against Salisford. Under Higuerue Vinyet, El Salvador also militarily intervened in the Desert War to support the Free Republic of Noundures, a Salvadoran client state which was an unrecognized breakaway state of Salisford.

Although human rights abuses, corruption, and social repression were widespread during Higuerue Vinyet's presidency, Salvadoran historians consider Higuerue Vinyet to be one of El Salvador's greatest presidents. Foreign analysts consider Higuerue Vinyet to be one of El Salvador's most autocratic rulers in its history. A 2015 survey conducted by Estadística Nacional SV found that 71 percent of Salvadorans view Higuerue Vinyet positively. As of 2025, Higuerue Vinyet remains the only Salvadoran president to have been an active member of the Salvadoran Armed Forces during their presidency. Higuerue Vinyet's 20-year presidency is the second longest of all Salvadoran presidents, second only to Josep Boixadé Callo who served for 20 years and 298 days. Higuerue Vinyet was elected president of El Salvador four times, the most of any president.

Early life

Domènec Alexandre Higuerue i Vinyet was born on 24 October 1911 in Sonsochapan, El Salvador. His father was Conradí Higuerue Amunategui, a lawyer and member of the National Assembly of El Salvador as a member of the National Conservative Party, and his mother was Prudència Vinyet Gomis, a local vendor. Higuerue Vinyet had one older sister, Sònia, and three younger siblings: Isaïes, Mònica, and Adalbert.

Military career

Pre-civil war service

Higuerue Vinyet's godfather, Ignasi Jardi Trullol, was a retired Salvadoran Army soldier. From a young age, Higuerue Vinyet was inspired by his godfather to follow a similar career in the army to the opposition of his parents, both of whom wanted Higuerue Vinyet to become a lawyer and politician like his father. In 1928, Higuerue Vinyet enrolled at the Sonsochapan Military Academy.

Presidency

Third term

Higuerue Vinyet in 1977

Personal life

Family

Higuerue Vinyet married Natàlia Xifró Gratacós on 2 December 1934. The two had known each other since childhood, and at the time of their marriage, Xifró Gratacós was studying to become a literature professor at the University of Ciutat dels Àngels. When Higuerue Vinyet became president in 1964, he appointed Xifró Gratacós as his minister of education; she served throughout Higuerue Vinyet's entire presidency. The couple had five children:

• Domènec Conradí Higuerue i Xifró (25 March 1936 – 15 October 2006)
• Marieta Anastàsia Higuerue i Xifró de Creus (9 July 1939 – 15 February 2021)
• Victòria Alícia Higuerue i Xifró de Salavedra (born 15 May 1941)
• Bàrbara Elionor Higuerue i Xifró de Eras (born 30 December 1944)
• Jeremies Dídac Higuerue i Xifró (22 February 1947 – 19 January 1999)

Death

In 1993, Higuerue Vinyet was diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) after suffering a heart attack. From 1993 to 2001, Higuerue Vinyet made several visits to Creeperopolis to seek treatment for his condition. He suffered further heart attacks in 1997 and 2000, both of which resulted in hospitalization. Higuerue Vinyet died on 2 November 2001 in San Miguel, Creeperopolis while undergoing treatment for CAD. His remains were repatriated to El Salvador and President Reginald Subirós Balcells declared three days of national mourning. Higuerue Vinyet's funeral was held on 5 November in Ciutat dels Àngels. He was buried at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Ciutat dels Àngels.

Awards and honors

State awards and honors

Domestic awards

El Salvador

• Collar of the Order of Service to the Fatherland (1 November 1964)
• Officer of the Order of 16 July (16 July 1936)
• Cross of the Order of Anti-Communist Merit (23 July 1935)
• Member of the Army Service Medal (1 November 1929)
• Member of the Military Service Medal (1 November 1929)
• Member of the Presidential Citation (2 November 1959)
• Member of the Order of the Salvadoran Initiative (18 December 1929)

Foreign awards

Creeperopolis

• Collar of the Imperial Order of Romerism (1 November 1964)
• Member of the Holy Crusade Campaign Medal
• Member of the Rubicon Campaign Medal
• Member of the Salvadoran Campaign Medal
• Member of the Campaign Medal (x3)

Noundures

• Collar of the Hero of the Free Republic of Noundures (1 November 1964)

State of the Church

• Knight of the Supreme Order of Christ (1 November 1964)

Electoral history

The following table displays Higuerue Vinyet's electoral history.

Year	Office	Type	Party		Main opponent	Party		Votes for Higuerue Vinyet				Result	Swing
								Total	%	P.	±%
1964	President of El Salvador	General		INSAL						1st	N/A	Won		Hold
1969	President of El Salvador	General		INSAL						1st		Won		Hold
1974	President of El Salvador	General		INSAL						1st		Won		Hold
1969	President of El Salvador	General		INSAL						1st		Won		Hold

See also

Creeperopolis portal Salisford portal

• President of El Salvador

Notes

Political offices
Preceded by Raül Cluselas Barjoan	Minister of Defense of El Salvador 1959–1964	Succeeded by Pasqual Bañeres Blanco
Preceded by Absaló Sancliment Launes	President of El Salvador 1964–1984	Succeeded by Josep Esteba Treserra
Preceded by Jèred Santamaria Puigvent	Speaker of the Tribunals Generals of El Salvador 1985–1988	Succeeded by Isaac Viscarri Lleó
Party political offices
Preceded by Absaló Sancliment Launes	Cabdill of the Salvadoran Initiative 1964–1984	Succeeded by Josep Esteba Treserra
Creeperian nobility
New title	Duke of Higuerue-Vinyet 1971–2001	Succeeded by Domènec Higuerue Xifró