Battle of Carabobo

Battle of Carabobo
Part of the Venezuelan War of Independence (Military career of Simón Bolívar)
Detail of La Batalla de Carabobo by Martín Tovar y Tovar. Oil on canvas.
Date June 24, 1821 Location Carabobo, Venezuela Result Decisive Patriot victory
Belligerents
Patriots British Legions	Royalists
Commanders
Simón Bolívar	Miguel de la Torre
Strength
4,000 infantry 2,500 cavalry	5,000 troops no cavalry[1]
Casualties and losses
200 dead[2]	2,908 dead or wounded

The Battle of Carabobo, 24 June 1821, was fought between independence fighters, led by Simón Bolívar, and the Royalist forces, led by Spanish Field Marshal Miguel de la Torre. Bolívar's decisive victory at Carabobo led to the independence of Venezuela.

History

The Royalists occupied the road leading from Valencia to Puerto Cabello. As Bolívar's force of 6,500 approached the Royalist position, Bolívar divided his force and sent half on a flanking maneuver through rough terrain and dense foliage. De la Torre likewise split his force and sent half to deal with this flank attack. Hitting the Patriots with musket fire, the Royalists held back the attack for a while. The Venezuelan infantry failed and retreated, but the Irish, Welsh, and English of the "British Legion" fought hard and took the hills. They sustained about 50% of Bolívar's casualties. The Patriots eventually broke through the Royalist lines on the flank and marched towards the rear of de La Torre's force. The Spanish infantry formed squares and fought to the end under the attack of the Patriot cavalry. The rout was so bad that only some 400 of one infantry regiment managed to reach safety at Puerto Cabello. With the main Royalist force in Venezuela crushed, independence was ensured. Subsequent battles included a key naval victory for the independence forces on 24 July 1823 at the Battle of Lake Maracaibo and in November 1823 José Antonio Páez occupied Puerto Cabello, the last Royalist stronghold in Venezuela.

Commemoration

June 24 is celebrated as Battle of Carabobo Day in Venezuela. This day is also called "Army Day" in Venezuela.

See also

• Nevado, Bolivar's dog, who died in the Battle of Carabobo

Notes

1. ^ from 1.551 of theoric cavalry , only two squadrons of hussars fight as infantry. The rest of royalist cavalry 1.372 Venezuelan llaneros, flee from the battle
2. ^ Implausible, even if given by Bolivar.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Battle of Carabobo

Animated Demo

• http://www.prodi.com.ve/home/presentacion1.htm (in Spanish language)

General

• Venezuela on Encyclopedia of Days
• Carabobo 1821 on Prodiseño Escuela de Comunicación Visual y Diseño
• Bolivar's British Legion by Ian Fletcher from Ian Fletcher Battlefied Tours
• Pages of Glory on Simón Bolívar, The Southamerican Washington from Don Mabry's Historical Text Archive.

Coordinates: 10°00′16″N 68°09′57″W / 10.0045°N 68.1657°W / 10.0045; -68.1657

v • d • e Venezuela topics History New Granada · Captaincy General · Declaration of Independence · War of Independence · First Republic · Second Republic · Military career of Simón Bolívar · Battle of Carabobo · Gran Colombia · Federal War Politics Elections · Political parties (Fifth Republic Movement · Democratic Action · COPEI (Social Christian Party) · For Social Democracy · Communist Party · United Socialist Party · A New Era) Constitution · Foreign relations · Military • Missions · National Assembly · Presidents · Supreme Tribunal of Justice Geography Environmental issues · Fauna · Flora · National parks · Subdivisions (Administrative regions · Cities · States) · World Heritage Sites Economy Communications · Companies · Cooperatives · Currency · Energy · Stock exchange · Transport Demographics Venezuelans · Public holidays · Languages · Religion · Notable Venezuelans Culture Cuisine · Demographics · Education · Healthcare · Heritage · Internet domain · Literature · Media · Miss Venezuela · Music Symbols National flag · Coat of arms · National anthem · National symbols WikiProject · Portal