Front

Back

Front: Simón Bolívar (1783-1830), South American revolutionary leader and Francisco de Paula Santander (1792-1840), military and political leader of independence

Bolívar was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He led the fight for independence in what are now the countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Bolivia. He served as the first president of Bolivia when it became independent from Spain in 1824. Bolívar is revered as a hero in these countries and throughout much of the rest of Hispanic America.

Santander began his military career at the age of 18 as a soldier in the federalist faction of New Granada's independence movement. He later became a centralist.

Santander received the rank of colonel in 1812. After the Spanish Invasion of New Granada, Santander retreated to the border near the modern Venezuelan, where he was promoted to Brigadier General in 1817 under Simón Bolívar.

Simón Bolívar appointed him commander of the republican army's vanguard in the invasion of New Grenada 1819. Santander was one of the battlefield commanders during the republican victory at the Battle of Boyacá in August 7 of that same year. After the battle, he was promoted to Division General, the equivalent of Major General.

Santander was elected vice president of Gran Colombia in 1821 by the newly gathered Congress. Santender became acting president when Bolívar, the president of the new republic, decided to continue leading the republican forces against Ecuador and Peru.

Santander and Bolívar were initially close friends and allies. However, political and ideological differences soon separated them. In 1828 Bolívar abolished the office of the vice president and declared himself dictator. Santander was blamed for an assassination attempt against Bolivar and exiled.

After Bolívar died in 1830, Santander returned from exile and served as President of New Granada 1832 to 1836.

Back: Condor with waterfall and mountain

Front

Back

Front: José María Córdova (1799-1829), Antiochian general and hero of Ayacucho

Córdova did not have much formal education, but developed interest in revolutionary cause. In 1815 he joined the army as a second lieutenant to fight against the Spaniards. The battalion in which he fought contributed to the victory in the battle of the Palo River, and Córdova was promoted lieutenant at the age of 16.

In 1919 Córdova came under the command of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator. He was ordered to engage the remnant of Spanish army in Antioquia and the CostaAtlantica. After he expelled the Spanish government in Antioquia in 1820, Córdova participated in the taking of Cartagena in 1821.

At the beginning of the Campaign of the South, Bolívar ordered him to march to Ecuador, and fought in the battle of Pichincha. Córdova was a brigadier general when the campaign of Peru started under the Command of Antonio Jose Sucre. His successful campaign in the battle of Ayacucha assured the independence of Peru. It eventually led to the confirmation of independence of South America, the creation of Bolivia and the recognition of nations of the new South American States by France, England and the United States.

Back: Fortress at Cartagena

Front

Back

Front: Antonio Narino (1765-1823), Colombian revolutionary

A liberal intellectual, Nariño was one of the first to foment revolution against Spain in South America. He secretly translated and distributed copies of The Declaration of the Rights of Man. He was imprisoned several times for his revolutionary activities.

In 1811 he became the president of Cundinamarca, one of the independent states formed after the dissolution of the vice-royalty of New Granada. Nariño favored strong central government as the only way to preserve independence. He opposed loose federation desired by the military juntas of other states.

He was involved in civil wars with the federalists until he was granted dictatorial powers and succeeded in uniting the patriot forces to repel a royalist invasion. He drove the Spanish from Popayán, but was defeated in 1814 at Pasto.

Simón Bolívar made him vice president of the greater republic of Colombia 1821, but he resigned two months later. Often vilified for being opinionated, Nariño was not recognized until many years later as one of the greatest and most self-sacrificing of the early advocates of independence.

Back: Archaeological site

Front

Back

Front: Francisco Jose de Caldas (1771-1816), Colombian naturalist

He mastered the rudiments of astronomy, botany, and medicine, and constructed a barometer and sextant, although he had not even books to guide him in his studies.

He accompanied for some time the Spanish explorer, J. C. Mutis, in Peru and New Granada. Subsequently he explored the Andes and the Magdalena River, and in 1804 measured the height of Chimborazo and Tunguragua. He was afterward director of the observatory at Bogotá, and in 1807 began the "Seminario de la Nueva Granada," a scientific journal, republished in Paris in 1849.

He was executed by order of Morillo, for espousing the cause of independence.

Back: Balsa Muisca from the Gold Museum

Front

Back

Front: Policarpa Salavarrieta (1795-1817), Colombian revolutionary

Policarpa was born in Guadas, Colombia of poor and lower class parentage. She and her brothers were enthusiastic revolutionaries. They wanted to free Colombia from Spanish domination. She was caught as a spy and executed by royalist troops.

On the way to the execution, Policarpa walked with dignity and courage. She made an impassionate plea to the crowd, inspiring the people with revolutionary fervor.

Back: El Dorado from the Gold Museum