Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina ( ; ; 24 October 1891 – 30 May 1961), nicknamed El Jefe (; meaning the boss), was a Dominican military officer and dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic from August 1930 until his assassination in May 1961. He served as president from 1930 to 1938 and again from 1942 to 1952, ruling for the rest of his life as an unelected military strongman under figurehead presidents.Rafael Estrella from 3 March 1930 to 16 August 1930; Jacinto Peynado from 16 August 1938 to 7 March 1940; Manuel Troncoso from 7 March 1940 to 18 May 1942; Héctor Trujillo from 16 August 1952 to 3 August 1960; Joaquín Balaguer from 3 August 1960 until 16 January 1962, 8 months after Trujillo's death His rule of 31 years, known to Dominicans as the Trujillo Era ( or La Era de Trujillo), was one of the longest for a non-royal leader in the world, and centered around a personality cult of the ruling family. It was also one of the most brutal; Trujillo's security forces, including the infamous SIM, were responsible for perhaps as many as 50,000 murders. These included between 17,000 and 35,000 Haitians in the infamous Parsley massacre in 1937, which continues to affect Dominican-Haitian relations to this day.
rafael leónidas trujillo molina ( ; ; 24 october 1891 – 30 may 1961) nicknamed el jefe (; meaning the boss) was a dominican military officer and dictator who ruled the dominican republic from august 1930 until his assassination in may 1961 he served as president from 1930 to 1938 and again from 1942 to 1952 ruling for the rest of his life as an unelected military strongman under figurehead presidentsrafael estrella from 3 march 1930 to 16 august 1930; jacinto peynado from 16 august 1938 to 7 march 1940; manuel troncoso from 7 march 1940 to 18 may 1942; héctor trujillo from 16 august 1952 to 3 august 1960; joaquín balaguer from 3 august 1960 until 16 january 1962 8 months after trujillo's death his rule of 31 years known to dominicans as the trujillo era ( or la era de trujillo) was one of the longest for a non-royal leader in the world and centered around a personality cult of the ruling family it was also one of the most brutal; trujillo's security forces including the infamous sim were responsible for perhaps as many as 50000 murders these included between 17000 and 35000 haitians in the infamous parsley massacre in 1937 which continues to affect dominican-haitian relations to this day