Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military leader who was instrumental in independence of several Latin American countries from the Spanish rule
@Revolutionary, Facts and Family
Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military leader who was instrumental in independence of several Latin American countries from the Spanish rule
Simon Bolivar born at
He married Maria Teresa Rodriguez del Toro y Alaiza, in 1802. Eight months after returning to Venezuela with him, she passed away due to yellow fever.
He had no children of his own, due to the fact that he contracted measles and mumps when he was a young boy.
He is believed to have had an affair with Manuela Saenz, who saved him from an assassination attempt.
Simon Jose Antonio de la Santisma Trinidad Bolivar y Palacios Ponte y Blanco was born on July 24, 1783 into a wealthy family in Caracas, Captaincy General of Venezuela (now the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela).
A large portion of the family’s wealth came from the estates and the mines they owned including sugar plantations, silver, gold and copper mines.
Doña María de la Concepción Palacios y Blanco was his mother while Coronel Don Juan Vicente Bolívar y Ponte was his father. He had two older sisters and a brother: María Antonia, Juana, and Juan Vicente.
Due to certain circumstances, Simon's parents entrusted him to the care of family's slave la negra Hipolita. Bolivar, however, returned to his parents after a few years.
Tragedy struck Simon as his father died when he was just two and a half years old and his mother also passed away when he was around nine years old.
Simon Bolivar returned to Venezuela in 1807. Venezuela achieved de facto independence on April 19, 1810, when the Supreme Junta of Caracas established their rule and deposed colonial administrators.
He along with a few notable Venezuelans persuaded Francisco de Miranda to return to his native land to take up the republican cause. They welcomed Miranda in 1811 and Bolivar was promoted to the rank of colonel and made commandant of Puerto Cabello in 1812.
During the war, Bolivar lost control of San Felipe Fort along with its ammunition stores on June 30 of 1812 to the royalist forces and abandoned his post and retreated to his estate in San Mateo.
Seeing the republican cause as lost, Miranda too signed a capitulation with Monteverde on July 25, 1812. Thereafter, Bolívar along with other revolutionary officers, termed Miranda's actions as treasonous and arrested and handed Miranda over to the Spanish Royal Army.
For his services to the royalist cause, Bolívar was granted a passport and he left for Curaçao on August 27, 1812. In 1813, he was given a military command in Tunja, New Granada (modern day Colombia).
In 1819, Bolivar paraded into New Granada, which was also at war with Bolivar’s enemy, Spain. He took command of a small force and conquered the Spaniards in Boyar, thus delivering the territory of Colombia. He then returned to Angostura and then led the assembly that systematized the Republic of Colombia. He thus, became its first president on December 17, 1819.
Simon Bolivar is regarded as one of the most powerful figures in the history of South America, leading the liberation movement for six nations against the Spanish Empire. Born into a wealthy household, Bolivar was orphaned at a very young age and was raised by his uncles and his nurse with great warmth and care. Little did he realize that by being put in some of the most elite schools and by being allowed to tour Europe, he would slowly turn into and become one of the most prominent faces that would change the face of Europe and Latin America permanently. By the end of his life, he was probably the most prominent leader in South America, as well as the most influential politician. He is definitely one of the most celebrated figures in Latin American history as he led Venezuela, Colombia (including Panama), Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia to independence from the Spanish Empire.
Information | Detail |
---|---|
Birthday | July 24, 1783 |
Died on | December 17, 1830 |
Nationality | Venezuelan |
Famous | Military Leaders, Revolutionary, Republicans, Leaders, Political Leaders, Revolutionaries, Presidents, Military Leaders |
Ideologies | Republicans |
Spouses | María Teresa Rodríguez del Toro y Alaysa |
Siblings | María Antonia - Juana - Juan Vicente |
Known as | Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Blanco |
Birth Place | Caracas |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Gender | Male |
Father | Coronel Don Juan Vicente Bolívar y Ponte |
Mother | Doña María de la Concepción Palacios y Blanco |
Sun Sign | Leo |
Born in | Caracas |
Famous as | Revolutionary & Military Leader |
Died at Age | 47 |