José Tomás Boves

José Tomás Boves

José Tomás Boves Rodríguez (born September 18, 1782 in Oviedo , † December 5, 1814 near Urica ) was a military leader on the side of the Spanish colonial power during the Venezuelan wars of independence .

Originally from Spain, Boves came to Venezuela at a young age. During the War of Independence, which flared up since 1811, he rose to the position of Caudillo on the side of the realistas loyal to Spain by gathering an army of llaneros behind him, whom he had promised "liberation from slavery".

When he and Francisco Tomás Morales were advancing against the city ​​of Caracas , which was taken by Simón Bolívar , the Republican General José Félix Ribas successfully stood in his way on February 12, 1814 at the Battle of La Victoria with an army recruited from students from the University of Caracas .

Boves reorganized his troops, moved again against Caracas and took it. The reputation of his cruel actions caused a massive flight of the people of Caracas to the east of the country, which claimed numerous lives.

Boves fell at the Battle of Urica on December 5, 1814 against the republican troops under General Ribas, which went out in favor of the realistas . The subsequent triumphant advance of Morales brought the end of the second Venezuelan republic.

Literature: Zeuske, Michael, From Bolívar to Chávez. The history of Venezuela, Zurich: Rotpunktverlag, 2008.