Battle of La Victoria (1814)

The battle of La Victoria was a battle of the Venezuelan War of Independence, in which royalist forces under José Tomás Boves tried to take the city of La Victoria, held by General José Félix Ribas.

Battle of La Victoria
Part of the Venezuelan War of Independence
Date 12 February 1814 Location La Victoria, Venezuela Result Republican victory
Belligerents
United Provinces of Venezuela	Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
José Félix Ribas Vicente Campo Elías Luis María Rivas-Dávila  † Mariano Montilla	José Tomás Boves Francisco Tomás Morales
Strength
Total: 1,500[1][2] 220 riders[1] 120 soldiers of Squadron Dragons[1] 85 seminarians[1] 5 artillery[1]	Total: 2,500[1]–4,000[2] 900[1]–2,200[2] riders 1,800 Infantry Troopers[2] Some cannons[1]

The battle was fought on 12 February 1814. Given the shortage of regular troops, Ribas had to arm a thousand students from colleges and seminaries in the city and other neighboring towns, including 85 students of the Seminary of Santa Rosa de Lima, Caracas.[3] Before going into battle, General Ribas addressed the youths who accompanied him, ending with these words:

Soldiers: What we have desired will be held today: behold Boves. Five times larger than the military brings to fight us; but it still seems insufficient to dispute our win. You defend the fury of tyrants the lives of your children, the honor of your wives, the soil of the homeland; show our omnipotence. For this day to be memorable, we cannot choose between victory or death: it is necessary to overcome! Long live the Republic![4]

The battle began at seven in the morning and lasted all day on the streets of the city. Republican troops built an impressive resistance to push the royalist troops at that time led by Francisco Tomás Morales. By late afternoon, victory had not yet gone to either side. While the fighting raged, the Patriots received a reinforcement of 220 troopers under Vicente Campo Elías, from San Mateo, that effectively broke the siege. Hours later, Morales and his men withdrew combat horsemen pursued by Republicans. Result of this battle fails realistic attempt to cut communications between Caracas and Valencia.

Bolivar, knowing victory Ribas granted the title of "Winner of the Tyrants".

On 12 February 1947, the Constituent Assembly decreed that Venezuela would celebrate each anniversary of the battle as Youth Day, in honor of the young people who achieved this important victory. In Victoria's main square there is a sculptural group made by Eloy Palacios, erected in 1895, representing Ribas showing a youth how to use a rifle.[5]

References

1. Pérez Vila, Manuel. Batalla de La Victoria. Historia para nosotros.
2. Julián Fuentes-Figueroa Rodríguez (2003). La Segunda República de Venezuela (1812-1814). Caracas: Ediciones de la Presidencia de la República, pp. 122. ISBN 978-9-80030-330-6.

   Boves no pudo dirigir la Batalla de La Victoria por encontrarse en Villa de Cura, postrado en cama, a raíz de haber sido herido en la Primera Batalla de la Puerta (3 de febrero del año 1814). El ejército patriota republicano contaba sólo 1,500 hombres, incluyendo el Batallón La Guaira que comandaba el señor coronel Ramón Ayala. Los efectivos realistas sumaban 4.000 hombres, a saber: 2,200 lanceros y 1,800 fusileros.

3. Donís Ríos, Manuel Alberto (2009). "Sotanas con fusiles y lanzas en mano". Revista El Desafío de la Historia. 1. 2: 69.
4. Eduardo Blanco. Venezuela Heroica. Ed. Monte Ávila. Pág. 48-49.
5. Día de la Juventud — Efemérides Venezolanas.com