| Antonio Valero de Bernabé |
| October 26, 1790 – June 7, 1863 |
Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabé |
| Nickname |
The Liberator from Puerto Rico |
| Place of birth |
Fajardo, Puerto Rico |
| Place of death |
Bogotá, Colombia |
| Allegiance |
Spanish Army,
Mexican Revolutionary Army,
Venezuelan Army |
| Years of service |
1807-1863 |
| Rank |
Brigadier General |
| Commands held |
Military Chief of the Department of Panama,
Governor of Puerto Cabello,
Chief of Staff of Colombia,
Minister of War and Maritime of Venezuela |
| Battles/wars |
Battle of Zaragoza,
Mexican Liberation,
Independence of South America |
| Awards |
The Bust of the Liberator of Venezuela,
The Medal of the Liberators of Mexico,
The Bust of the Liberator of Peru,
Medal del Callao |
Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabé (October 26, 1790 – June 7, 1863), aka The Liberator from Puerto Rico, was a military leader who fought for the independence of South America together with Simon BolÃvar and who wanted the independence of Puerto Rico. He was an advocate of the formation of a confederation of Latin American nations.
Early years
Valero de Bernabé was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, his father, Cayetano Valero de Bernabé, was an officer in the Spanish Army and his mother, Rosa Pacheco de OnormandÃa, came from a rich Puerto Rican family. When he was quite young, his father died and Bernabe was sent by his family to Spain, to study military science - there he graduated as a junior officer's in 1807.[1]
Spanish military service
Valero de Bernabé was a recent graduate of the military instutution when Napoleon Bonaparte convinced King Charles IV of Spain to permit him to pass through Spain to attack Portugal. When Napoleon later refused to leave Spanish soil, the Spanish government declared war. Valero de Bernabé joined the Spanish Army and helped defeat Napoleon's army at the Siege of Saragossa (1808).[2] After this action, Valero de Bernabé was awarded many decorations and promoted to the rank of colonel.[1]
When Ferdinand VII assumed the throne of Spain in 1813, Valero de Bernabé became critical of the new king's policies towards the Spanish colonies in Latin America and developed a keen hatred of the monarchy, resigned his commission in the army, and in 1821, emigrated to Mexico.[2]
Mexican military service
In Mexico he joined the Army of the Three Guarantees headed by AgustÃn de Iturbide, and of which Valero de Bernabé was named Chief of Staff. He successfully fought for Mexico's independence from Spain after which the people proclaimed Iturbide Emperor of Mexico. Since Valero de Bernabé had developed anti-monarchist feelings following his experiences in Spain, he revolted against Iturbide; as a result he fled the country but was captured by a Spanish pirate who turned him over to the Spanish authorities in Cuba, where he was imprisoned. Valero de Bernabé managed to escape from jail with the help of a group of men that were Pro-Simon BolÃvar and followers of the Liberator's dream of an independent and unified South America.[1]
The Liberator from Puerto Rico
Upon learning of BolÃvar's dream of liberating and creating a unified Latin America, which included Puerto Rico and Cuba, Valero de Bernabé decided to join him and stopped in St. Thomas where he established contacts with the Puerto Rican independence movement. He travelled to Venezuela were he was met by General Carlos Soublette. Soublette then introduces him to General Francisco de Paula Santander, Vice-President of the Republic of Colombia. Impressed with Valero de Bernabé, Santander named him Brigadier General of the Colombian Army.[3] Valero de Bernabé and his men together with the men of General Antonio José de Sucre were victorious in the battle of Ayacucho which gave Peru its independence.
He subsequently is introduced to BolÃvar and gained Bolivar's confidence.[3] In 1826, Valero de Bernabé was named Military Chief of the Department of Panama and successfully defended Panama from a Spanish invasion whose intention was to recapture the territory lost.
BolÃvar called for a constitutional convention at Ocaña during April 1828. He had seen his dream of eventually engendering an American Revolution-style federation between all the newly independent republics, with a government ideally set-up solely to recognize and uphold individual rights, succumb to the pressures of particular interests throughout the region, which rejected that model and had little or no allegiance to liberal principles, thus Valero de Bernabé's dream that Puerto Rico and Cuba would be liberated from Spanish rule and join the Great Colombia (known as the United Provinces of New Granada) as an independent state called Borinquen were not realized. There were many disagreements and rivalries between the delegates. For example General's José Antonio Páez of Venezuela and Francisco de Paula Santander of Colombia differed in ideas and became bitter enemies. However, in regard to fighting for Puerto Rico's and Cuba's independence, the most influential factor against such actions, were protests presented by the Governments of the United States, France, England and Mexico who claimed to have commercial interests in both islands and therefore were against the idea.[1]
Valero de Bernabé founded the Liberal Party of Venezuela. Among the many positions which he held were: "Military Chief of the Department of Panama", "Governor of Puerto Cabello", "Chief of Staff of Colombia", "Minister of War and Maritime of Venezuela" [1] Throughout his career he was always loyal to BolÃvar with whom he became firm friends. He was later falsely accused of plotting against the Liberator and was sent into exile in St. Thomas with his wife, MarÃa Madrid, whom he had married in Spain, and his children.[1]
Later years and Legacy
When BolÃvar died in 1830, Valero de Bernabé was permitted by the government of Venezuela to serve as an honour guard at his funeral. In 1853 Venezuela honoured Valero de Bernabé by presenting him with "The Bust of the Liberator of Venezuela".[2]
In his lifetime, Valero de Bernabé was also awarded[1]:
- "The Medal of the Liberators of Mexico",
- "The Bust of the Liberator of Peru", and the
- "Medal del Callao"
Antonio Valero de Bernabé continued to be politically active until the day that he died June 7, 1863, in Bogotá, Colombia, where he was buried. In 1874, the Venezuelan government built a National Pantheon of the Founding Fathers where the remains of their heroes were to be placed. Valero de Bernabé's name is inscribed on the monument but his remains, which were never located, were not placed at the site.[1] Puerto Rico has also honored Valero de Bernabé's memory by naming a school and an avenue after him. There is also a statue of Valero de Bernabé in the city of Fajardo, his native city.[2]
See also
References
External links
Puerto Rican independence movement
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Dieser Artikel basiert auf dem Artikel Antonio_Valero_de_Bernabe
aus der freien Enzyklopädie Wikipedia und steht unter
der "Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike"-Lizenz.
In der Wikipedia ist eine Liste der Autoren verfügbar.
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