BIOGRAPHY:

Simon Bolivar is one of the brightest revolutionaries in world history. For residents of the New World, the name of the politician is a symbol of the liberation movement in the countries of Latin America, former colonies of Spain. Bolivar believed that slavery should be abolished, and the indigenous population should have equal rights to a decent life.

During his lifetime, Bolivar received the title “Liberator of America.” There are ups and downs in the life of a politician. Until his death he remained true to his ideas. His name is immortalized in the name of the country – Bolivia, a former Spanish colony of Upper Peru.

Childhood and youth:

Bolivar was born on July 24, 1783 in Caracas. Full name: Simon José Antonio de la Santisima Trinidad Bolivar de la Concepción y Ponte Palacios y Blanco. Researchers of the politician’s biography have established that the ancestors of the future revolutionary arrived in South America from the Basque country back in the 16th century. The settlers successfully integrated into the life of the Spanish colonies and soon began to take an active part in the life of the new settlements.

Thanks to his activity, Simon’s grandfather acquired the title of viscount, which was never approved by the king of Spain. Simon’s father, Juan Vincente Bolivar, strengthened the family’s position. After their death, Simon’s parents left plantations, factories, houses, slaves and jewelry to the young heir. If compared with the state of modern rich people, Bolivar could be on the list of dollar billionaires.

The orphan was raised by his uncle Carlos Palacios. The teacher for the main subjects was the philosopher Simon Rodriguez. He initiated young Simon into the ideas of the enlighteners of France and spoke in detail about republican ideals. After Rodriguez’s escape, Simon is trained by the Governor General’s secretary, Andres Bello. Thanks to his mentor, Simon meets the scientists Alexander Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland, who had a strong influence on the worldview of young Bolivar.

In 1799, the guardians decided to send the young man to Spain to study law. Bolivar is received by the royal family. He maintains communication with Prince Ferdinand, the future king of Spain, who will later become the politician’s main enemy. Four years later, in 1803, Simon moves to France. Here he studies courses at the Paris Polytechnic and Higher Normal School. His cousin Fanny actively associated with freethinkers. Bolivar also entered their circle, sharing with them common views on politics and the world order.

The future revolutionary came to the United States of America in 1805. The example of the liberation of the United States from British rule becomes a model for the revolutionaries of South America. Bolivar is among them. He is confirmed in his political views. The idea of ​​creating the United States of South America on the territory of Latin American countries becomes a priority for him.

Political activities:

In 1810, Bolivar participates in a revolt with Francisco Miranda, which leads Venezuela to the declaration of independence a year later. The Spanish government is trying to return colonial lands. In 1812, the Venezuelan army was destroyed and Miranda was sent to prison. Bolivar escapes from the country and hides in the territory of New Grenada.

By 1813, Simon, together with the rebels, organized a new detachment, which managed to gain the upper hand over the Spanish army. Bolivar becomes the head of the Second Venezuelan Republic and receives the title of Liberator. But a year later, the Spaniards manage to knock Bolivar out of the main city of Venezuela – Caracas.

The politician appeals to the Haitian authorities and receives support. In 1816, Bolivar arrives in South America and begins reform. Abolishes slavery and announces the issuance of lands to soldiers who took an active part in the war of independence. By 1818-1819, Simon Bolivar, with the support of an army of like-minded people, established control over most of Venezuela and New Grenada. At the very end of 1819, he was elected president of the Republic of Gran Colombia, which included the territories of modern Colombia and Venezuela.

By 1824, the Spaniards, under pressure from the Colombians, left the territories that are now Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Bolivar becomes dictator of Peru and in 1825 heads the Republic of Bolivia he created. The politician remains faithful to the idea of ​​​​creating the United States of South America, which would include the territory from Panama to Chile. Bolivar tried to promote it at a special congress, but faced opposition from the local elite. He is described as a supporter of the Bonapartist regime, and behind his back they call him Napoleon. A movement developed against the politician’s activities, as a result of which he lost power in Bolivia and Peru.

In 1828, Bolivar entered Bogota with an army, where he created the residence of the ruler of Colombia. In the same year, one of his associates organized an assassination attempt on him. Bolivar narrowly escapes death and suppresses the rebellion. Bolivar’s struggle for power continues. The elite of Caracas advocates the separation of Venezuela from Colombia. The ruler loses influence and power in the country. In 1830 he resigned.

Personal life:

At the age of 19, Simon, while in Madrid, meets the aristocrat Maria Teresa Rodriguez. She, like Bolivar, is of Creole descent. After the wedding, the young couple leaves for Venezuela. Here Simon’s wife contracts yellow fever and dies. The event greatly shocked the young man, and he takes a vow of celibacy.

Changes in his personal life occurred in 1822, when Bolivar met his second life partner during the entry of troops into the Ecuadorian capital of Quito. As the column moves through streets full of people, a laurel wreath falls into Simon’s hands. The revolutionary’s gaze meets the black-haired girl standing on the balcony greeting the liberators.

That same evening, Simon and Manuela Saenz met at a ball and from that moment tried to be together. She is also a Creole, 12 years younger. She shared views on the liberation of colonial territories in Latin America. When Manuela met Simon, she was married to Dr. Thorne. The woman considered her husband a good man, but boring. Saenz was instantly drawn to the politician.

Manuela and Simon never officially became husband and wife. He swore to remain faithful to his late wife, and she to her official husband. Bolivar was grateful to her for saving him during the assassination attempt. After the miraculous rescue of their leader, the people began to call Manuela “the liberator of the Liberator.”

When he abdicated the presidency, he convinced Saenz to leave him. She continued to love him and wrote letters from Bogota, telling in detail about what was happening, about how former comrades in the movement were betraying his cause. After the death of her beloved, Manuela left for Paita. She lived in poverty and tried to survive by selling cigarettes and sweets. She saved letters from Simon, but they were burned during the diphtheria epidemic. Saenz died from the same disease and was buried in a common grave.

Bolivar had no children.

Formation of views:

The formation of Bolivar’s worldview was influenced by the enlightenment philosopher and teacher Simon Rodriguez, who revealed to him the world of ideas of the English and French Enlightenment.

In 1805, Bolivar visited the United States, where he conceived his plan to liberate his homeland from Spanish rule.

After returning to Caracas, Bolivar joined the liberation movement of Francisco de Miranda, who led the armed forces of Venezuela, took part in the uprising of 1810, which resulted in the proclamation of Venezuela as an independent republic

Leader of the liberation movement:

Soon Simon Bolivar became the head and ideological inspirer of the entire liberation movement. Despite the fact that in 1812 the Spanish army managed to defeat Bolivar’s troops, a year later he made another attempt to achieve his intended goal. This time he succeeded, he was awarded the official title “Liberator” of Venezuela, but he was unable to retain this power for long. In 1814, Bolívar was overthrown by the Spanish and had to flee to Jamaica to seek refuge.

During the third attempt to liberate Venezuela in 1816, Bolívar conquered not only his native country, but also New Granada (modern Colombia). The National Assembly declared Venezuela a republic and elected Bolívar as its president.

In 1816, Bolivar issued a decree on the abolition of slavery, and in 1817, a decree on allocating land to the soldiers of the liberation army. Thanks to this, the military leader endeared himself to most of the Venezuelan population.

End of the Revolutionary War:

In the winter of 1819, the National Congress was held in the city of Angostura. The assembly approved Bolívar as president of Gran Colombia, which included Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia. This state existed until 1831.

In June 1821, the Spanish abandoned Venezuela after the Battle of Carabobo. A year later, Bolivar joined forces with the army of Antonio José Sucre and soon liberated Ecuador. Bolivar’s next target was Peru and Upper Peru (Bolivia). At the same time, the Argentine general José de San Martin was fighting the Spaniards in the south. He defeated them in Chile and successfully moved towards Lima, the capital of Peru. And on July 26-27, 1822, the Guayaquil meeting took place, at which military leaders were unable to resolve the differences that existed between them on military and political issues. After San Martin left Peru, Bolivar was given the mission to end the War of Independence. Bolivar entered Peru with his army and defeated the Spanish troops at the battles of Ayacucho and Junin in 1824. Sucre defeated the Spaniards in Upper Peru in 1825. The War of Independence of the Spanish Colonies in America finally ended in 1826.

In August 1825, the supreme power of Upper Peru was transferred to Bolivar, in whose honor the new republic was named Bolivia.

Sad ending and cult of personality:

But the new president failed to create a stable system of governance in the country. A struggle for power began in other former colonies of Spain, where, after the expulsion of the Spaniards, power was taken into the hands of the latifundists, who did not share the aspirations of Bolivar and his associates for freedom, civic dignity and justice. The project of a union of Latin American republics, which Bolivar tried to implement through the Panama Congress convened on his initiative in 1826, also failed to be implemented.

Soon after this, Gran Colombia disintegrated. First, Bolivar’s power was overthrown in Peru and Bolivia, then Venezuela and Ecuador separated from Colombia. A blow for Bolivar was the death of General Antonio de Sucre, whom the “Liberator” wanted to make his successor.

After his death, Bolivar gained even greater popularity. In Latin American countries, the cult of the “Liberator” was formed. Military successes (in total he fought 472 battles) began to be compared with the victories of Napoleon, and his ideas were presented as the highest achievement of Latin American political thought. The state of Bolivia, a department in Colombia and a state in Venezuela are named after Bolivar.

Death:

Simon passed away at the age of 47. The sad event occurred on December 17, 1830. The cause of death has not yet been established: according to some sources – from tuberculosis, according to others – poisoning. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez attempted to dot the i’s. A decision is made to exhume the revolutionary’s body.

After DNA analysis, both versions were not confirmed. Hugo Chavez, despite the results, continued to claim that the Liberator had been killed. In memory of the hero of the liberation movement, he changes the name of the country to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Bolivar died on someone else’s estate, near the city of Santa Marta. Before his death, he renounced his property and died in poverty. They buried him in someone else’s clothes. After his death, the name of Bolivar continues to live its own life. Among the interesting facts is information about the name of the asteroid Boliviana, discovered in 1911, in honor of the politician. One of the highest mountain peaks in the world also bears his name – Bolivar Peak. The currency of Venezuela is bolivars, and the portrait of the politician adorns banknotes of various denominations.

In the US capital, Washington, there is a bronze monument to Simon Bolivar by sculptor Felix de Weldon. It is considered the largest equestrian monument to a politician in the Western Hemisphere.

Films have been made about the revolutionary’s activities. The most famous are “Simon Bolivar” directed by Alexandro Blasetti in 1963 and “The Liberator” directed by Alberto Arvelo, filmed in 2013.