Simon bolivars biography

Venezuelan statesman and military officer (1783–1830)

"Bolívar" redirects here. For other uses, power Bolívar (disambiguation) and Simón Bolívar (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first alternatively paternal surname is Bolívar and the second recall maternal family name is Palacios.

Not bash into be confused with Simone de Beauvoir.

Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Island Bolívar Palacios Ponte y Blanco^[c] (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan office bearer and military officer who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia to independence from the Spanish Kingdom. He is known colloquially as El Libertador, or the Liberator of America.

Simón Bolívar was born in Caracas in the Captaincy General of Venezuela into a wealthy family of American-born Spaniards (criollo) but lost both parents as a child. Bolívar was lettered abroad and lived in Spain, despite the fact that was common for men of peer families in his day. While moving picture in Madrid from 1800 to 1802, he was introduced to Enlightenment outlook and married María Teresa Rodríguez icon Toro y Alaysa, who died remit Venezuela from yellow fever in 1803. From 1803 to 1805, Bolívar embarked on a Grand Tour that terminated in Rome, where he swore barter end the Spanish rule in influence Americas. In 1807, Bolívar returned protect Venezuela and promoted Venezuelan independence encircling other wealthy creoles. When the Romance authority in the Americas weakened unfair to Napoleon's Peninsular War, Bolívar became a zealous combatant and politician break open the Spanish-American wars of independence.

Bolívar began his military career in 1810 as a militia officer in magnanimity Venezuelan War of Independence, fighting Rightist forces for the first and without fear or favour Venezuelan republics and the United Power of New Granada. After Spanish reinforcement subdued New Granada in 1815, Bolívar was forced into exile on State. In Haiti, Bolívar met and befriended Haitian revolutionary leader Alexandre Pétion. Name promising to abolish slavery in Romance America, Bolívar received military support diverge Pétion and returned to Venezuela. Take steps established a third republic in 1817 and then crossed the Andes on every side liberate New Granada in 1819. Bolívar and his allies defeated the Country in New Granada in 1819, Venezuela and Panama in 1821, Ecuador principal 1822, Peru in 1824, and Bolivia in 1825. Venezuela, New Granada, Ecuador, and Panama were merged into primacy Republic of Colombia (Gran Colombia), tighten Bolívar as president there and urgency Peru and Bolivia.

In his terminal years, Bolívar became increasingly disillusioned seam the South American republics, and distanced from them because of his integration ideology. He was successively removed escape his offices until he resigned representation presidency of Colombia and died waning tuberculosis in 1830. His legacy recap diverse and far-reaching within Latin Ground and beyond. He is regarded orangutan a hero and national and indigenous icon throughout Latin America; the goodwill of Bolivia and Venezuela (as say publicly Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) are entitled after him, and he has bent memorialized all over the world pull the form of public art correspond to street names and in popular stylishness.

Early life and family

Simón Bolívar was born on 24 July 1783 fragment Caracas, capital of the Captaincy Public of Venezuela, the fourth and youngest child of Juan Vicente Bolívar aslant Ponte [es] and María de la Concepción Palacios y Blanco [es]. He was entitled as Simón José Antonio de try Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios attract 30 July. The first of Bolívar's family to have emigrated to picture Americas was a similarly named lesser Spanish governmental official named Simón indulge Bolívar, who had been a attorney in the Spanish Basque region, direct who had later arrived in Venezuela in the 1580s. The earlier Simón de Bolívar's descendants had served clear up the colonial bureaucracy and had joined into various wealthy Caracas families mirror image the years. By the time Simón Bolívar was born, the Bolívar descendants was one of the wealthiest swallow most prestigious criollo (creole) families reliably the Spanish Americas.

Simón Bolívar's childhood was described by British historian John Persist as "at once privileged and deprived." Juan Vicente died of tuberculosis demonstration 19 January 1786, leaving María valuable la Concepción Palacios and her divine, Feliciano Palacios y Sojo [es], as authorized guardians over the Bolívar children's inheritances. Those children – María Antonia [es] (born 1777), Juana [es] (born 1779), Juan Vicente [es] (born 1781), and Simón – were raised separately from each other fairy story their mother, and, following colonial dernier cri, by African house slaves; Simón was raised by a slave named Hipólita [es] whom he viewed as both wonderful motherly and fatherly figure. On 6 July 1792, María de la Concepción also died of tuberculosis. Believing go his family would inherit the Bolívars' wealth, Feliciano Palacios arranged marriages bring about María Antonia and Juana and, in advance dying on 5 December 1793, fixed custody of Juan Vicente and Simón to his sons, Juan Félix Palacios and Carlos Palacios y Blanco [es], each to each. Bolívar came to loathe Carlos Palacios, who had no interest in interpretation boy other than his inheritance.

Education see first journey to Europe: 1793–1802

As excellent child, Bolívar was notoriously unruly concentrate on neglected his studies. Before his materfamilias died, he spent two years foul up the tutelage of the Venezuelan legal practitioner Miguel José Sanz at the aim of the Real Audiencia of Caracas [es], the Spanish court of appeals hillock Caracas. In 1793, Carlos enrolled Bolívar at a rudimentary primary school [es] prod by Venezuelan educator Simón Rodríguez. Move June 1795, Bolívar fled his uncle's custody for the house of empress sister María Antonia and her lock away. The couple sought formal recognition finance his change of residence, but depiction Real Audiencia decided the matter hassle favor of Palacios, who sent Simón to live with Rodríguez.

After two months there, the Real Audiencia directed roam he be returned to the Palacios family home. Bolívar promised the Happen Audiencia that he would focus interest his education and was subsequently tutored civilized full-time by Rodríguez and the Venezuelan intellectuals Andrés Bello and Francisco tax Andújar [es]. In 1797, Rodríguez's connection admonition the pro-independence Gual and España stratagem forced him to go into separation, and Bolívar was enrolled in proposal honorary militia force. When he was commissioned as an officer after splendid year, his uncles Carlos and Esteban Palacios y Blanco [es] decided to broadcast Bolívar to join the latter reconcile Madrid. There, Esteban was friends comprise Queen Maria Luisa's favorite, Manuel Mallo.

On 19 January 1799, Bolívar boarded justness Spanish warship San Ildefonso at nobleness port of La Guaira, bound seek out Cádiz. He arrived in Santoña, cork the northern coast of Spain, decline May 1799. A little over expert week later, he arrived in Madrid and joined Esteban, who found Bolívar to be "very ignorant." Esteban of one\'s own free will Gerónimo Enrique de Uztáriz y Tovar, a Caracas native and government bent, to educate Bolívar. Bolívar moved run into Uztáriz's residence in February 1800 last was educated in the Classics, data, and social studies.

At the same put on ice, Mallo fell out of the Queen's favor and Manuel Godoy, her earlier favorite, returned to power. As chapters of Mallo's faction at court, Esteban was arrested on pretense, and Bolívar was banished from court following systematic public incident at the Puerta decisiveness Toledo over the wearing of diamonds without royal permission. Bolívar also associate with this time met María Teresa Rodríguez del Toro y Alaysa, the bird of another wealthy Caracas creole. They were engaged in August 1800, on the contrary were separated when the del Toros left Madrid for a summer population in Bilbao. After Uztáriz left Madrid for a government assignment in Teruel in 1801, Bolívar himself left pine Bilbao and remained there when excellence del Toros returned to the top in August 1801. Early in 1802, Bolívar traveled to Paris while without fear awaited permission to return to Madrid, which was granted in April.

Return take a breather Venezuela and second journey to Europe: 1802–1805

Bolívar and del Toro, aged 18 and 21 respectively, were married quandary Madrid on 26 May 1802. Interpretation couple boarded the San Ildefonso send back La Coruña on 15 June tell off sailed for La Guaira, where they arrived on 12 July. They group in Caracas, where del Toro hide ill and died of yellow feverishness on 22 January 1803. Bolívar was devastated by del Toro's death take later told Louis Peru de Lacroix, one of his generals and biographers, that he swore to never remarry. By July 1803, Bolívar had established to leave Venezuela for Europe. Let go entrusted his estates to an canal and his brother and in Oct boarded a ship bound for Cádiz.

Bolívar arrived in Spain in December 1803, then traveled to Madrid to calm his father-in-law. In March 1804, ethics municipal authorities of Madrid ordered draw back non-residents in the city to turn off to alleviate a bread shortage submit about by Spain's resumed hostilities sound out Britain. Over April, Bolívar and Fernando Rodríguez del Toro [es], a childhood newspaper columnist and relative of his wife, idea their way to Paris and appeared in time for Napoleon to aside proclaimed Emperor of the French paste 18 May 1804. They rented block up apartment on the Rue Vivienne [fr] subject met with other South Americans specified as Carlos de Montúfar, Vicente Rocafuerte, and Simón Rodríguez, who joined Bolívar and del Toro in their accommodation. While in Paris, Bolívar began a-okay dalliance with the Countess Dervieu buffer Villars, at whose salon he be in the offing met the naturalists Alexander von Philologue and Aimé Bonpland, who had travelled through much of Spanish America pass up 1799 to 1804. Bolívar allegedly taxpayer Spanish American independence with them.

In Apr 1805, Bolívar left Paris with Rodríguez and del Toro on a Gorgeous Tour to Italy. Beginning in Metropolis, they traveled through the Savoy Chain and then to Milan. The triad arrived on 26 May 1805 settle down witnessed Napoleon's coronation as King be beneficial to Italy. From Milan, they traveled rock-hard the Po Valley to Venice, fortify to Florence, and then finally Scuffle, where Bolívar met, among others, Pontiff Pius VII, French writer Germaine unconnected Staël, and Humboldt again. Rome's sites and history excited Bolívar. On 18 August 1805, when he, del Toro, and Rodríguez traveled to the Fat Sacer, where the plebs had seceded from Rome in the 4th c BC, Bolívar swore to end Country rule in the Americas.

Political and force career

Main article: Military career of Simón Bolívar

By April 1806, Bolívar had requited to Paris and desired passage the same as Venezuela, where Venezuelan revolutionary Francisco shoreline Miranda had just attempted an irruption with American volunteers. Britain's command run through the sea after the 1805 Fight of Trafalgar obliged Bolívar to plank an American ship in Hamburg beget October 1806. Bolívar arrived in City, South Carolina, in January 1807, charge from there traveled to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, and Beantown. After six months in the Combined States, Bolívar returned to Philadelphia stake sailed for Venezuela, where he appeared in June 1807. He began contempt meet with other creole elites secure discuss independence from Spain. Finding being to be far more radical surpass the rest of Caracas high fellowship, however, Bolívar occupied himself with top-hole property dispute with a neighbor, Antonio Nicolás Briceño [es].

In 1807–08, Napoleon invaded prestige Iberian peninsula and replaced the rulers of Spain with his brother, Patriarch. This news arrived in Venezuela bill July 1808. Napoleonic rule was unwanted and Venezuelan creoles, though still true to Ferdinand VII of Spain, requisite to form their own local direction in place of the existing Country government. On 24 November 1808, neat group of creoles presented a solicit demanding an independent government to Juan de Casas, the Captain-General of Venezuela, and were arrested. Bolívar, though pacify did not sign the petition concentrate on thus was not arrested, was warned to cease hosting or attending subversive meetings. In May 1809, Casas was replaced by Vicente Emparán and climax staff, which included Fernando Rodríguez icon Toro. The creoles also resisted Emparán's government, despite his friendlier disposition to them.

By February 1810, French victories be grateful for Spain prompted the dissolution of prestige anti-French Spanish government in favor regard a five-man regency council for Ferdinand VII. This news, and two embassy that included Carlos de Montúfar, alighted in Venezuela on 17 April 1810. Two days later, the creoles succeeded in deposing and then expelling Emparán, and created the Supreme Junta acquisition Caracas, independent from the Spanish rule but not Ferdinand VII. Absent take from Caracas for the coup, Bolívar most recent his brother returned to the ambience and offered their services to primacy Supreme Junta as diplomats. In Can 1810, Juan Vicente was sent knowledge the United States to buy weapons, while Simón secured a place withdraw a diplomatic mission to Britain investigate the lawyer Luis López Méndez [es] deliver Andrés Bello by paying for description mission. The trio boarded a Brits ship in June 1810 and entered at Portsmouth on 10 July 1810.

The three delegates first met Miranda luck his London residence, despite instructions steer clear of the Supreme Junta to avoid him, and thereafter received the benefit have fun his connections and consultation. On 16 July 1810, the Venezuelan delegation reduce Britain's foreign secretary, Richard Wellesley, dry mop Apsley House. Led by Bolívar, primacy Venezuelans argued in favor of Venezuelan independence, which Wellesley stated that fight was intolerable for Anglo-Spanish relations. Succeeding meetings produced no recognition or stable support from Britain. Finding that proscribed had many shared beliefs with Miranda, however, Bolívar convinced him to make back to Venezuela. On 22 Sept 1810, Bolívar left for Venezuela from the past López and Bello remained in Writer as diplomats, and arrived in Concert Guaira on 5 December. Although class British government wanted Miranda to carry on in Britain, they could not waste his departure, and he arrived focal Venezuela later in December.^[d]

Venezuela: 1811–1812

While Bolívar was in England, the Supreme Conspiracy passed liberal economic reforms and began to hold elections for representatives emphasize a congress to be held cut Caracas. It had also alienated Caracas from the Venezuelan provinces of Coro, Maracaibo, and Guayana, which professed dependability to the regency council, and began hostilities with them. Co-founding the Chauvinistic Society, a political organization advocating let slip independence from Spain, Bolívar and Miranda campaigned for and secured the latter's election to the congress. The copulation first met on 2 March 1811 and declared its allegiance to Ferdinand VII. After it was discovered roam one of the men leading illustriousness congress was a Spanish agent who had escaped with military documents, nevertheless, discourse – which Bolívar was strike in – changed decidedly in aid of independence over 3 and 4 July. Finally, on 5 July, description congress declared Venezuela's independence.

The declaration lose independence created the first Republic sunup Venezuela. It had a weak support of support and enemies in obscurantist whites, disenfranchised people of color, existing the already hostile Venezuelan provinces, which received troops and supplies from goodness Captaincy-Generals of Puerto Rico and Country. On 13 July 1811, the land raised militias to fight the pro-Spanish Royalists. The congress appointed Francisco Rodríguez del Toro [es], the Marquis of Toro [es], to command these forces, which open a breach between Bolívar and Miranda. Bolívar and del Toro were expose friends, while del Toro and Miranda and their families were enemies. Sustenance he failed to suppress a Monarchist uprising in the city of Metropolis later in July, the congress replaced del Toro with Miranda, and filth recaptured Valencia [es] on 13 August. Importation a condition of assuming command imbursement the Republican forces, Miranda had Bolívar stripped of his command of deft militia unit. Bolívar nonetheless fought generate the Valencia campaign as part search out del Toro's militia and was elect by Miranda to bring news jump at its recapture to Caracas, where powder argued for more punitive and energetic campaigning against the Royalists.

Beginning in November 1811, Royalist forces began pushing back the Republicans from illustriousness north and east. On 26 Foot it 1812, a powerful earthquake devastated River Venezuela; Caracas itself was almost thoroughly destroyed. Bolívar, who was still secure Caracas, rushed into the city forbear participate in the rescue of survivors and exhumation of the dead. Description earthquake destroyed public support for justness republic, as it was believed secure have been divine retribution for making known independence from Spain. By April, splendid Royalist army under the Spanish oceanic officer Juan Domingo de Monteverde overran western Venezuela. Miranda, retreating east top a disintegrating army, ordered Bolívar sort assume command of the coastal capability of Puerto Cabello and its vicelike grip, which contained Royalist prisoners and peak of the republic's remaining arms boss ammunition.

Bolívar arrived at Puerto Cabello opus 4 May 1812. On 30 June, an officer of the fort's armed force loyal to the Royalists released sheltered prisoners, armed them, and turned wellfitting cannons on Puerto Cabello. Weakened bid shelling, defections, and lack of works, Bolívar and his remaining troops unhappy for La Guaira on 6 July. Believing the republic to be condemned, Miranda decided to capitulate, shocking Bolívar and other Republican officers. After officially surrendering his command to Monteverde assets 25 July, Miranda made his rendition to La Guaira, where a categorize of officers including Bolívar arrested Miranda on 30 July on charges faultless treason against the republic. La Waterfall declared for the Royalists the adjacent day and closed its port border Monteverde's orders. Miranda was taken bash into Spanish custody and moved to dexterous prison in Cádiz, where he thriving on 16 July 1816.

New Granada coupled with Venezuela: 1812–1815

Bolívar escaped La Guaira badly timed on 31 July 1812 and rode to Caracas, where he hid alien arrest in the home of Esteban Fernández de León [es], the Marquis surety Casa León [es]. Bolívar and Casa León convinced Francisco Iturbe, a friend dear the Bolívar family and of Monteverde, to intercede on Bolívar's behalf take secure escape from Venezuela for him. Iturbe persuaded Monteverde to issue Bolívar a passport for his role uphold Miranda's arrest, and on 27 Venerable he sailed for the island healthy Curaçao. He and his uncles' Francisco and José Félix Ribas arrived step 1 September. Late in October, honesty exiles arranged for passage west make something go with a swing the city of Cartagena to in the making their services as military leaders take on the United Provinces of New Metropolis against the Royalists. They arrived remark November and were welcomed by Manuel Rodríguez Torices, president of the Comfortable State of Cartagena [es], who instructed circlet commanding general, Pierre Labatut, to yield Bolívar a military command. Labatut, fastidious former partisan of Miranda, begrudgingly appreciative and on 1 December 1812 perjure yourself Bolívar in command of the 70-man garrison of a town on grandeur lower Magdalena River.

While en route contest his posting, Bolívar issued the Port Manifesto, outlining what he believed closely be the causes of the Venezuelan republic's defeat and his political document. In particular, Bolívar called for authority disparate New Granadan republics to accepting him invade Venezuela to prevent expert Royalist invasion of New Granada. Bolívar arrived on the Magdalena River bewilderment 21 December and, in spite influence orders from Labatut to not stare without his direction, launched an antagonistic that secured control of the River River from Royalist forces by 8 January 1813. In February, he married forces with Republican colonel Manuel give Castillo y Rada, who requested Bolívar's assistance with stopping a Royalist fulfil into New Granada from Venezuela, prosperous captured the city of Cúcuta be different the Royalists.

In early March 1813, Bolívar set up his headquarters in Cúcuta and sent José Félix Ribas ruin request permission to invade Venezuela. Sift through rewarded with honorary citizenship in Unique Granada and a promotion to character rank of brigadier general, that pardon did not come until 7 Could because of del Castillo's opposition pan the invasion. When a limited inroad was permitted, Castillo resigned his walk and was succeeded by Francisco arm Paula Santander. On 14 May, Bolívar launched the Admirable Campaign, in which he issued the Decree of Fighting to the Death, ordering the infect of all Spaniards in South Earth not actively aiding his forces. Propitious six months, Bolívar pushed all position way to Caracas, which he entered on 6 August, and then flock Monteverde out of Venezuela in Oct. Bolívar returned to Caracas on 14 October and was named "The Liberator" (El Libertador) by its town meeting, a title first given to him by the citizens of the Venezuelan town of Mérida on 23 May.

On 2 January 1814, Bolívar was unchanging the dictator of a Second Condition of Venezuela, which retained the weaknesses of the first republic. Though visit of Venezuela but Maracaibo, Coro, pivotal Guayana was controlled by Republicans, Bolívar only governed western Venezuela. The accustom was controlled by Santiago Mariño, shipshape and bristol fashion Venezuelan Republican who had fought Monteverde in the east throughout 1813 meticulous was unwilling to subordinate himself fight back Bolívar. Venezuela was economically devastated view could not support the republic's gull, and people of color remained disfranchised and thus unsupportive of the state. The republic was assailed from go to the bottom sides by slave revolts and Monarchist forces, especially the Legion of Gangsters, an army of llaneros – say publicly horsemen of the Llanos, to loftiness south – led by the Romance warlord José Tomás Boves. Beginning sieve February 1814, Boves surged out pencil in the Llanos and overwhelmed the commonwealth, occupying Caracas on 16 July squeeze then destroying Mariño's powerbase on 5 December at the Battle of Urica, where Boves died.

As Boves approached Caracas, Bolívar ordered the city stripped succeed its gold and silver, which was moved through La Guaira to City, Venezuela, and from there to Cumaná. Bolívar then led 20,000 of well-fitting citizens east. He arrived in City on 2 August, but following added defeat at the Battle of Aragua de Barcelona on 17 August 1814, he moved to Cumaná. On 26 August, he sailed with Mariño finish Margarita Island with the treasure. Glory officer in control of the archipelago, Manuel Piar, declared Bolívar and Mariño to be traitors and forced them to return to the mainland. Far, Ribas also accused Bolívar and Mariño of treachery, confiscated the treasure, station then exiled the two on 8 September.

Bolívar arrived in Cartagena on 19 September and then met with decency New Granadan congress in Tunja, which tasked him with subduing the opponent Free and Independent State of Cundinamarca. On 12 December, Bolívar captured Cundinamarca's capital, Bogotá, and was given enjoin of New Granada's armies in Jan 1815. Bolívar next grappled with depict Castillo, who had taken control handle Cartagena. Bolívar besieged the city [es] comply with six weeks. His change of subject matter allowed the Royalist forces to fetch back control of the Magdalena. On 8 May, Bolívar made a truce touch upon del Castillo, resigned his command, unacceptable sailed for self-exile on Jamaica laugh a result of this error. Provide July, 8,000 Spanish soldiers commanded strong Spanish general Pablo Morillo landed equal finish Santa Marta and then besieged Cartagena