Character Catalog

A major political text written in exile, in which Bolívar analyzes the situation of the Spanish-American colonies and outlines the political future of the continent. Considered one of the most important founding documents of Latin American nationalism.

A landmark constitutional speech delivered before the Congress of Angostura, in which Bolívar sets out his vision of a strong, stable republic committed to education. A key text for understanding his political thought.

A political union of New Granada, Venezuela, and Ecuador into a single federal state. One of Bolívar's greatest political achievements, though the Republic dissolved in 1830 after his death.

A constitution personally drafted by Bolívar for Bolivia, the new nation named in his honor. It provided for a lifetime presidency with the power to designate a successor, reflecting his concerns about the stability of the newly independent republics.

A diplomatic initiative by Bolívar aimed at uniting the Spanish-American nations into a confederation. Although it did not succeed, the congress foreshadowed later attempts at regional integration in Latin America.

A lightning military campaign that allowed Bolívar to reconquer Venezuela in just a few months. This campaign earned him the title of Libertador and the nickname of the American Napoleon.

We are not Europeans, we are not Indians, we are a middle species between the aborigines and the Spaniards. Americans by birth and Europeans by right, we find ourselves in the difficult position of disputing with the natives our titles of possession and of maintaining in the country where we were born, against the opposition of the invaders.

It is harder, I confess, to release our people from servitude than to subjugate them. I desire, more than any other, to see the greatest nation in the world formed in America, great not so much by virtue of her area and wealth as by her freedom and glory.

Spaniards and Canarians, count on death, even if you are neutral, if you do not actively work in favor of the liberation of America. Americans, count on life, even if you are guilty.

The continuation of authority in the same individual has often proved the undoing of democratic governments. Repeated elections are essential to popular systems, for nothing is as dangerous as allowing power to remain long in the hands of the same citizen.

I swear before you, I swear by the God of my fathers, I swear on their honor, I swear by my homeland, that I will not rest my arm nor my soul until I have broken the chains that oppress us by the will of Spanish power.

Bolívar's birthplace, where he was born in 1783 into an aristocratic Creole family. It was in Caracas that Venezuela's first declaration of independence was proclaimed in 1811.

The site of Bolívar's famous 1805 oath, in which he solemnly pledged to liberate South America. This symbolic moment marked the beginning of his revolutionary calling.

The seat of the 1819 Congress where Bolívar delivered his celebrated founding address and was elected president of Gran Colombia. The city was later renamed in his honor.

The site of the decisive victory on August 7, 1819, which secured the independence of New Granada. This battle, won in under two hours, paved the way for the creation of Gran Colombia.

The Andean pass crossed by Bolívar and his troops in July 1819, despite extreme cold and high altitude. This epic crossing proved decisive in the campaign to liberate New Granada.

The place where Bolívar died on December 17, 1830, exhausted, disillusioned by the failure of his dream of unity, and suffering from tuberculosis. He was buried there before his remains were transferred to Caracas in 1842.