The brave hero of numerous novels and biographies, a fierce fighter for the independence of South America, the first president of Venezuela, the man after whom the whole state is named - that's what Bolivar is.
The origins of life
It all started in 1783, already far from us. Then a child was born, who received the name Simon at birth. This man was destined to change the course of history and forever become one of the most famous people on the planet. So, he was born into a we althy Creole family - that was the name of the descendants of immigrants from Europe, mainly Spaniards and Portuguese. Since childhood, he was a very smart and active child.
However, grief touched the boy early. At first, he lost his father, and a little later, his mother died from a serious illness. At the age of 5, he was an orphan. The duties of the guardian were taken over by the brother of his father. He loved the restless child very much and tried to give him a decent upbringing and education. He chose for his nephew a famous intellectual, an admirer of the ideas of the French enlighteners of the 18th century, Simon de Rodriguez. However, when he is extremelybecame interested in political activities, the boy's uncle considered it dangerous to have such a teacher and broke off contacts between Rodriguez and Bolivar.
The views of the political leader of Latin America
Nevertheless, the ideas of Montesquieu, Diderot, Rousseau sunk deep into the soul of the future leader of South America. At the age of sixteen, he goes to Europe to continue his education, and at the same time to see a new world for him. In 1799, he arrived in France, where at that time a dramatic page in the history of this country was coming to an end. The revolution was ending, and General Bonaparte came to the forefront of the political Olympus of the French Republic.
The next year he visited London, where he met with his future colleague Francisco de Miranda. The latter had a significant impact on the political views of the young man. He became even more entrenched in the need to free the South American colonies from Spain's tutelage.
A year later, Simon arrived in Madrid, where he performed the ceremony of marriage, but his wife died soon after. Until 1805, Bolivar traveled around Europe, where he met his former mentor. There they jointly decided to start an open fight against Spain, but for this it was necessary to wait for the right moment.
First failed attempt
And that moment is coming. In 1808 Napoleon Bonaparte's army invaded Spain. A period of dual power began, which was very opportunely suitable for Bolívar's goals. But he understood that this required allies andassociates. Simon goes to the courts of European monarchs, opponents of Spain, in order to obtain support for his actions. However, he never got any serious help.
In 1810 Miranda returned to Venezuela and immediately headed the government and the army of this province. The Council of Patriots, which met in the same year, announced the separation from Spain. And soon the armed struggle against the metropolis begins. Our hero was also directly involved in this uprising - that's what Bolivar is for Venezuela.
The Spanish crown was not going to put up with the loss of such rich and vast lands. The king's troops stationed in South America begin a targeted attack on the positions of the rebels. The well-equipped and trained Spanish army de alt a crushing blow to the supporters of independence. Miranda was captured, in which he soon died, and Simon took refuge in the Dutch possessions, which saved his life.
Pressure and determination make the difference
Characterization of Simón Bolivar during this period of his life can be summarized in one sentence: a stubborn ideological fighter for the rights of the peoples of Latin America. Indeed, the defeat did not discourage him at all. Already in 1813, with a new army of supporters, he set foot on the land of Venezuela, and his march to Caracas can be compared with the triumphant "hundred days" of Napoleon. But the result was also tragic. Having won easy victories at the beginning of the campaign, then the rebels suffered a series of heavy defeats. The Spaniards were able to take control of the entire territory of this province. Bolívar had to retreat from Spanish possessions again.
The third attempt took place in 1816. Simon prepared for it carefully. He developed a political program in order to win over all segments of the population of Venezuela to his side, and a military campaign was drawn up in detail. And these actions were not long in coming. For three years, the army of revolutionaries consistently knocked out the Spaniards from all strongholds. In 1919, our hero managed to annex New Granada to Venezuela, proclaimed the creation of Great Colombia and became its president - that's who Simon Bolivar is.
Final victory for Bolivar
The new president's methods of government were far from democratic. Many of his supporters accused him of excessive authoritarianism and a lust for power. Some openly called for disobedience to the usurper, but political disputes were interrupted by new attacks by Spanish troops. In the battle near the town of Carabobo, the Spaniards suffered the most brutal defeat since the start of the war. Bolivar decided to build on the success. He appointed General Antonio Sucre as his closest assistant. Soon they took possession of the territory of Ecuador and Peru.
The Battle of Ayacucho went down in history as the "Battle of the Generals". Here, 16 Spanish commanders were captured by South American patriots. Also in this battle, Spain lost the last of its troops located in Latin America, and there were no forces and means to send new ones. Unifier and liberator - that's what Bolivar is in the minds of ordinary Latin Americans.
Hopes and reality
The main political dream of Simon was the creation of the United States of South America. Although at first he managed to subjugate the vast territories of modern Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, later his power did not stay there precisely because of the extremely tough management. He died in 1830, already retired.
The name Bolivar is immortalized in the name of the state of Bolivia. Also, the monetary unit of this country is called "boliviano", and in Venezuela it is called "bolívar". The personality and name of Bolivar gained wide popularity in world literature. In one of O'Henry's works, that was the name of a stallion. In the story, his owner was running away from enemies and was forced to leave his friend in order to save himself. Then the expression "Bolivar can not stand two" came into wide circulation. He emphasized the salvation of one person by sacrificing another. So the writer made a subtle allusion to the controversial moment of the capture and death of Miranda and the salvation of our hero. Now you know who Bolivar is in the political and cultural tradition.
