Aquino was born into a family belonging to the Taytes (chiefs) of the Nonualco, an Indigenous tribe of the Pipil nation that occupied the territory of the current Department of La Paz.

After the independence of Central America from Spain, it was briefly united with the Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide (1821–23).

In 1823, with the fall of Emperor Iturbide, it declared independence from Mexico together with the states of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

The confrontations between Liberals and Conservatives, the local caudillos, the government's lack of resources and its precarious organization, among other things, made the federation unstable.

The need to raise money for the support of the federation lead to a series of economic measures that were unpopular with the majority of the population.

The latter especially was a blow to the Indigenous population, who during colonial times had retained the right to practice slash-and-burn agriculture in lands not occupied by haciendas.

The government of El Salvador had to implement unpopular measures in 1832, including a direct tax on real estate and on rents.

The commandant of the neighboring city of San Vicente, Juan José Guzmán, received orders to suppress the rebellion.

Aquino intended to burn the city, since it had been the source of the first attacks on his army and it was where the exploitive landlords lived.

Aquino was named the political chief of San Vicente by his supporters, but he was unable to prevent a general sacking of the city.

According to popular tradition, Aquino went to the church of Nuestra Señora del Pilar and taking the crown from an image of St. Joseph, proclaimed himself King of the Nonualcos.

Taking advantage of this, Colonel Juan José López, in command of 5,000 men, launched a general attack and dispersed the rebels.

The writer Matilde Elena López wrote a theater piece with the name of The Ballad of Anastasio Aquino.