Venezuela’s First Republic (1810-1812)
First Republic of Venezuela (1810-1812)
The First Republic of Venezuela refers to the historical period between 1810 and 1812. It began on April 19, 1810, when a Supreme Council in Caracas dismissed Captain General Vicente Emparan, established a Congress, and declared independence on July 5, 1811. The territory was called the States of Venezuela.
With the declaration of independence, the Republican campaigns, and the War of Independence, the Republic ultimately fell on July 25, 1812. This occurred with the capitulation of San Mateo to the royalist leader Domingo de Monteverde, who entered Caracas on the 30th of the same month.
The Caracas Junta
On April 19, 1810, Captain General Vicente Emparan was overthrown. Shortly after, the Supreme Conservative Junta for the Rights of Ferdinand VII was proclaimed in the name of the deposed King. The Junta seized and distributed royal income to aid the war against the French in the peninsula.
Francisco de Miranda was called upon to guide the country’s destiny, and armed conflict soon followed. The opposing sides were known as patriots and royalists. The Junta officially notified the Regency that it had assumed sovereignty of the province due to the dissolved Spanish government. They would retain this power until Ferdinand VII returned or a legitimate government formed in Spain.
An army was formed to impose the new government on the provinces of Maracaibo and Coro, which opposed the Junta. The Regency declared a blockade of Venezuela’s coasts. However, the Junta gained recognition from Curaçao, hindering the blockade’s effectiveness.
The First Republic was short-lived. Royalist forces led by Domingo de Monteverde defeated the Republican troops in July 1812 and captured Francisco de Miranda. In 1813, Simón Bolívar achieved victories against the Spanish in New Granada and entered Caracas triumphantly on August 6, 1813, earning the title of “Liberator”.
Fall of the First Republic
Monteverde
In 1812, Domingo Monteverde commanded the Spanish Marines. Upon arriving in Coro on March 22, 1812, he defeated patriot troops led by Colonel Diego Jalón.
The Earthquake of 1812
On March 26, 1812, a devastating earthquake struck, severely impacting patriot-held cities like Caracas and La Guaira. Monteverde used this disaster to seize Barquisimeto unopposed.
End of the Republic
Monteverde advanced, gaining support from royalist sympathizers. On June 30, royalist prisoners in San Felipe Castle revolted, securing the port and its ships.
Blacks and mulattoes in Barlovento also rebelled against the Junta in support of King Ferdinand.
Miranda, facing the revolt and Monteverde’s advance, negotiated an agreement, surrendering weapons in exchange for immunity. He was later captured by his own comrades, including Simón Bolívar, and handed over to the royalists, who imprisoned him in Cádiz, where he died.
Victoria Battle
On February 12, 1814 General Jose Felix Ribas had to defend the population of Victoria (Aragua state in the present), and took as reinforcements to seminary students. Holed up in front of the convent resisted Boves forces throughout the day, at great sacrifice, until reinforcements arrived Rafael Urdaneta.
Migration to the Middle
After losing the first Battle of Carabobo, despite the victory in La Victoria, was imminent entry of the royalist troops to Caracas, so that all citizens who could walk took what they could carry and migrated towards Barcelona led by Bolivar, the progress of women, the elderly and children was very painful, and it was worse than the fate of those who were left waiting Boves clemency, which were executed en masse, about collaborating with the rebels, the other for allowing Caracas fell into his hands.
End of the Second Republic
The Second Republic begins to wane after the continued fighting and disunity for Republicans nuclei Caracas and Cumana. The Fifth Battle of Maturin fought on December 11, 1814 and in which Venezuelans were defeated, is considered the end of the Second Republic.
Territory [edit]
The Second Republic was composed of the provinces of Merida, Trujillo, Caracas, Barinas, Barcelona, Cumana and Margarita. During this period the province was not taken deGuayana, Maracaibo and Coro remained realistic.
Campaign Guiana [edit]
Simultaneously with the Admirable Campaign, General Santiago Marino led the resistance in the east, Marino and the patriots of the East had migrated to Trinidad to drop the First Republic, they planned their return and landed in Güiria the January 13, 1813, hence the February 2 took Maturin. Monteverde beats Marino May 25, 1813 at the Battle of the High of the Goths and gains access to Cumana on 3 August and 19 consolidate Barcelona’s second republic.