Career
He initially sided with the patriots but changed sides later to side with the royalists. He then led the resistance during the so-called Guerra a muerte. This was a time of irregular warfare and Benavides got the aid of many Mapuche chiefs to combat the Chileans and pillage the countryside.
Benavides was captured near the end of the war.
After a brief trial in Santiago, Benavides was hanged on February 23, 1822. His body was mutilated and dismembered.