Simon Bolivar Fighter for the independence of the states of South America Date of Birth: 24.07.1783 Country: Venezuela

Biography of Simon Bolivar

Simon Bolivar, a fighter for the independence of South American states, dreamed of creating a federative state in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru, modeled after the United States. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela, into a family of Spanish aristocrats. At the age of nine, he lost his parents. In his youth, Bolivar visited several European countries and was inspired by the revolutionary ideas that were prevalent at that time in the Old World.

In 1805, on top of Avignon Hill in Rome, Bolivar solemnly swore to free his homeland from the Spanish. In 1808, Spain was occupied by Napoleonic France, providing the American colonies a unique chance for freedom. In 1810, the Spanish governor was ousted in Venezuela, and in 1811, the country was formally declared independent from Spain. That same year, Bolivar joined the rebel army as an officer.

In 1812, Spanish troops reoccupied Venezuela, restoring colonial rule. Bolivar fled the country. In the following years, Bolivar led rebel squads, experiencing both victories and devastating defeats. However, in 1819, he led his small army through the supposedly impassable Andes and unexpectedly attacked Spanish troops in Colombia. On August 7, 1819, Bolivar won the Battle of Boyaca, which became a turning point in the war for independence. Venezuela was fully liberated in 1821, and Ecuador a year later.

In the summer of 1822, in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Bolivar met with Argentine rebel general Jose de San Martin to negotiate joint actions to liberate Peru. However, Bolivar's ambition played a detrimental role in the negotiations, and San Martin, to avoid conflicts with Bolivar over power, turned his forces back. By 1824, Bolivar's army completely liberated Peru, and by 1825, Upper Peru (now Bolivia).

Bolivar dreamed of creating a federative state in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru, modeled after the United States. The first three countries did unite for a while as Gran Colombia, with Bolivar as its president. However, tendencies to secede from Gran Colombia began to manifest in the participating countries' politics. The situation became extremely tense, with an assassination attempt on Bolivar in 1828. In 1830, Gran Colombia dissolved. Realizing the weight of his responsibility and that he was an obstacle to achieving peace in the region, Bolivar resigned. Shortly after, Bolivar passed away.