Simon Bolivar
Maria Teresa Teresa was dying, and all Simón Bolívar could do was stand by helplessly and watch. She was the love of his life. He had met her just two years before, in 1801, while they were both living in Madrid, Spain.
They fell in love immediately and wanted to marry right away. Bolívar was only seventeen, however, and Maria's father insisted that they wait. But she did become his wife. Now, less than a year after their marriage, she lay dying.
FAILED REBELLION
SIMON BOLIVAR WIFE
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However, Bolívar`s quiet life would not last long. Bolívar was not the first Venezuelan to try to liberate the Spanish colony. In 1806, Francisco de Miranda, another Venezuelan, tried to start a revolution against Spain. Miranda had traveled through the United States and Europe for years.
He traveled to the United States and met many leaders of the American Revolution, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Miranda was convinced that Venezuela and the rest of Spain`s American colonies should be free.
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Miranda arrived in Venezuela in February 1806 with 150 men and a fleet of three ships, two of which he got in Santo Domingo, and the third from the British navy.55 Venezuelan independence was a lifelong dream for Miranda, however, and he refused to accept defeat.This time, Miranda landed his troops in Venezuela but found little local support.
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Miranda had spent a lifetime talking about independence, yet he failed now because he lacked support in his native land. They enjoyed the power of being second only to the Spaniards and did not want their relationship with the lower classes to change. All the Creoles wanted was to get rid of the upper class, the Spaniards.
THE FIRST VENEZUELAN REPUBLIC
At the time of Maria Teresa`s death, Bolívar was only twenty years old. There, he lived for some time in France, where Napoleon now ruled. His experiences in France and the rest of Europe convinced him that Venezuela must become independent.
You know that in 1808, Napoleon overthrew the Spanish king and placed his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne.
Simón Bolívar became one of the leaders of these conspirators.
The revolutionary army gained important victories, but there was no overwhelming support for the new government.Bolívars supporters were Creoles.Mirandas strength came from the mestizos and the indigenous people. While the royalists gained strength, the quarrel between Miranda and Bolívar deepened. They were unsure of whom to support, the republicans or the royalists.
He failed to get any money, but he did convince Miranda to come back to Venezuela and lead the revolution.By this time, Miranda was sixty years old, an advanced age for someone at this time.
Miranda still believed in his dream of South American IndependenceThe would-be revolutionaries needed that experience to lead them in a fight against the Spanish army.
On July 5, 1811, the leaders of the rebellion declared Venezuela`s independence and established what has become known as the First Republic. Royalists were people who supported the king and opposed independence.
WAR TO THE DEATH
Bolívar had earned a quick victory, but the war was far from over. And it
became even bloodier and crueler than it had been before.
He went to New Granada, the colony next to Venezuela.
Rebels in the capital, Bogotá had declared independence in 1811.
Bolívar joined the rebels of New Granada.
Bolívar then convinced the leaders of New Granada to let him lead an army to liberate Venezuela. Finally, Bolívar proclaimed: “Those executioners who call themselves our enemies have broken international law.
. Our hatred knows no bounds, and the war shall be to the death!” The fight became bloodier. But Bolívar`s declaration of “war to the death” aided the rebels. Venezuelans could no longer remain undecided about the war around them.
BOLIVARS DARING PLAN
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Bolívar may have been defeated, but he never gave up! First, Bolívar must recognize Haiti`s government once he established his government in South America. Second, Bolívar must free all enslaved people.
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He needed the Venezuelans to join his army, but most either supported the royalists or were indifferent to the war altogether.If he could gain their support, Bolívar might still win the war.
In July 1817, Bolívar sailed up the Orinoco River and set up headquarters in the town of Angostura. It was a small, isolated town where the rebels could reorganize without interference from the Spaniards and royalists.
ON TO BOGOTA
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Bolívar decided on a bold move.The Spanish leaders thought no rebel army would be able to cross the hundreds of miles of trackless country and climb the mountains to attack such an isolated place.But that is exactly why Bolívar did it.
The army endured rain, wind, and floods.” Soldiers were swept away in floods, lost in quicksand, and killed by disease.
Bolívar returned to Angostura where he joined forces with a new llanero chieftain, José Antonio Páez.Once again, Bolívar surprised the royalist forces by attacking from an unexpected direction.
All the horses died, and Bolívar lost many men.But still, the army struggled on until finally, exhausted and out of supplies, they descended from the mountains into New Granada.There they were given fresh supplies and horses.As Bolívar had hoped, his army surprised the Spanish troops.The main Spanish army was beaten, and Bolívar marched into Bogotá almost without resistance.
Bolívar left behind a general from New Granada to establish a government there and then turned once again to the liberation of Venezuela.