[2] On 25 January 1837 Fonseca and Méndez took the León barracks and took a man named Braulio Mendiola out of jail and commissioned him to arrest the head of state, José Zepeda, and officials of his government.
He became the true arbiter of political life in Nicaragua, with the ability to even influence the elections of the supreme authorities of the State, which aroused the uncalmed traditional passionate hatreds.
Initially, about 400 Matagalpa archers enlisted in the defense of León against the invading army, but due to the mistreatment they received from Fonseca and the breaking of the liberal-conservative alliance, they joined the occupying forces.
After a shipment of weapons was seized in the port of El Realejo, allowing the advance towards León, on 24 January Malespín entered the long-besieged city, and his troops looted and massacred it.
[6] When Malespín entered León he executed many prominent citizens of Leonese society at the time, including Minister General Crescencio Navas and Supreme Director Emiliano Madriz.