Liberation of Gran Colombia 1816-1821

Simon Bolívar returned to Venezuela in December 1816 to renew the struggle for independence from Spain. This time, José Antonio Páez, a mestizo, was able to convince his fellow llaneros (plainsmen) along the Río Apure that the Spanish, not the criollo patriots, were the true enemies of social equality. The alliance of his fierce cavalrymen with Bolívar proved indispensable during the independence struggle in Latin America. Bolívar also secured the help of several thousand volunteer European recruits who were veterans of the Napoleonic Wars.

Based near the mouth of the Río Orinoco, Bolívar won an important victory against Spanish General Pablo Morillo near Barcelona (February 16, 1817) and thus defeated royalist forces in eastern Venezuela. Now recognized as commander in chief of the patriot forces, he again attempted to raise Venezuelans against the Spanish. However, on the site of an earlier defeat, La Puerta, Bolívar's army was routed by Morillo on March 15, 1818. Bolívar continued the insurrection.

Although Caracas remained in royalist hands, Bolívar maintained control of the Orinoco valley. Confident of ultimate victory over Spain, revolutionary leaders from Venezuela and New Granada convened a congress, in February 1819, in Angostura (present-day Ciudad Bolívar) and agreed to unite in a republic to be known as Greater Colombia. Bolívar was named as its first president. On June 11, Bolívar, with an army of about 2500 men, left Angostura and marched across Venezuela, over 7 rivers, and then through the frigid passes of the Andes into New Granada.

Bolívar's army arrived in the valley of Sagamose on July 6, 1819. On August 7, 1819, Spanish Colonel Barreiro, with 2000 infantry and 400 horse (possibly as many as 3000 Spanish and colonial troops), defended the approaches to Bogotá. At the Battle of Boyaca, Bolívar outmaneuvered him, placing his troops between Barreiro and the capital. While his right drove against the Spanish left flank, Bolívar's British Legion, all veterans, moved in frontal assault, repulsing the Spanish cavalry. Berreiro's troops were completely routed, losing 100 killed, 1600 prisoners, and all their heavy equipment. This was the decisive battle of the revolution in northern South America. Bolívar entered Bogotá in triumph on August 10, establishing the Republic of Colombia, with himself as president, in December 1819.

Bolívar and others continued to campaign indecisively against royalist forces in northwest Venezuela during 1820. Morillo opened negotiations with the revolutionaries. An armistice was effected at Trujillo on November 25, 1820 and was sustained until April 28, 1821. Upon the conclusion of this truce, Bolívar with 6000-7000 men once more moved through the Cordillera, this time southeastward. On June 25, 1821, Bolívar's troops fought the decisive Battle of Carabobo that liberated Caracas from Spanish rule. Spanish strength unraveled.

In August 1821 delegates from Venezuela and Colombia met at the border town of Cúcuta to formally sign the Constitution of the Republic of Greater Colombia, with its capital in Bogotá. Bolívar was named president and Francisco de Paula Santander, a Colombian, was named vice president. Later, Cartagena capitulated (October 1) after a 21-month siege and other garrisons began to fall. Bolívar had won the struggle for independence from Spain in New Granada and Venezuela.

References

Dictionary of Wars, 519; Military History, 891-2; Timelines of War, 313, 315; Venezuela - A Country Study; Colombia - A Country Study.

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