Juan Antonio Sotillo
Encyclopedia
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. During his long life, a very uncommon circumstance for a military leader at the time, he served under the army of Venezuelan general Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
, as well as in most of the Venezuelan nineteenth century civil wars and military revolts.
Early life
Juan Antonio Sotillo was born in Santa Ana of AnzoáteguiAnzoátegui
Anzoátegui State , is one of the 23 component states of Venezuela, located in the northeastern region of the country. Anzoátegui is well known for its beautiful beaches that attract many visitors. Its coast consists of a single beach approximately 100 km long...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, in 1790. Born within a family of humble means, the young Juan Antonio Sotillo initiates his military career in 1815 as a soldier in the Santa Ana cavalry squadron, under the orders of general José Tadeo Monagas
José Tadeo Monagas
José Tadeo Monagas Burgos was President of Venezuela 1847-1851 and 1855–1858, and a hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence...
. On 27 September 1816, he participates, still under general Monagas' orders, in the battle of El Juncal, against Spanish royalist general Francisco Tomás Morales.
In 1824, Sotillo reaches the rank of general, after fighting in several important campaigns during Venezuela's emancipation war
Venezuelan War of Independence
-The First Republic:Criollos resented the mercantilist policies of Spain. Trade was only allowed in Pacific ports which was a terrible burden for Argentina, Paraguay and the Caribbean colonies. This is significant as Cuba and Puerto Rico were forced to allow free trade in 1763 by Britain and...
. Later, after the withdrawal of Spanish royalists from Venezuelan territory, he becomes an important military leader at the recently created Republic of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
.
Republican life
After the failure of Gran ColombiaGran Colombia
Gran Colombia is a name used today for the state that encompassed much of northern South America and part of southern Central America from 1819 to 1831. This short-lived republic included the territories of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, northern Peru and northwest Brazil. The...
, Venezuela becomes an independent Republic in 1830. In 1833, Sotillo becomes Commander of the Province of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, in eastern Venezuela. Then, in mid 1849, he accompanies general José Laurencio Silva in the Campaign of Guárico, against a revolt headed by general José Antonio Páez
José Antonio Páez
José Antonio Páez Herrera was General in Chief of the army fighting Spain during the Venezuelan Wars of Independence, in addition to becoming the President of Venezuela once it was independent of the Gran Colombia...
.
Always close to the Monagas
Monagas
Monagas State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela.Monagas State covers a total surface area of 28,900 km² and, in June 30, 2010, had an estimated population of 908,626....
family clan, Sotillo is named second head of the army during the presidency of José Gregorio Monagas
José Gregorio Monagas
José Gregorio Monagas was President of Venezuela 1851-1855 and brother of José Tadeo Monagas.General José Gregorio Monagas was born in Aragua de Barcelona, Venezuela, in 1795. His parents were Francisco José Monagas, a merchant from the Canary Islands, and Perfecta Burgos, a native of Cojedes...
, brother of his compadre and former commander general José Tadeo Monagas
José Tadeo Monagas
José Tadeo Monagas Burgos was President of Venezuela 1847-1851 and 1855–1858, and a hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence...
. Later, in May, 1853, he is called on to fight an attempt to overthrow the government of José Gregorio Monagas
José Gregorio Monagas
José Gregorio Monagas was President of Venezuela 1851-1855 and brother of José Tadeo Monagas.General José Gregorio Monagas was born in Aragua de Barcelona, Venezuela, in 1795. His parents were Francisco José Monagas, a merchant from the Canary Islands, and Perfecta Burgos, a native of Cojedes...
. Despite his efforts, Monagas
Monagas
Monagas State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela.Monagas State covers a total surface area of 28,900 km² and, in June 30, 2010, had an estimated population of 908,626....
government falls in 1858 and he is forced to exile afterwards. From the island of Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, he attempts to organize, without success, an expedition against Venezuela. In 1859, he joins the Federal cause, taking up arms along with his two children, Miguel Sotillo
Miguel Sotillo
Colonel Miguel Sotillo was the oldest son of Venezuelan general Juan Antonio Sotillo. In 1858, during the Federal War, he and his brother José Antonio Sotillo accompanied their father on a raid through the Province of Barcelona, in eastern Venezuela....
and José Antonio Sotillo
José Antonio Sotillo
Colonel José Antonio Sotillo was the youngest son of Venezuelan general Juan Antonio Sotillo. In 1858, during the Federal War, he and his brother colonel Miguel Sotillo accompanied their father on a raid through the Province of Barcelona, in eastern Venezuela....
, with whom he commands the campaigns of El Banco de Los Pozos (18 March 1859) and Las Piedras (16 April 1859)--where they are defeated by the troops of general José Maria Zamora.
Federal war
In July 1859, Sotillo starts guerrilla warfare in the mountains of El Tigre. At this point, his prestige is worth his appointment as Second Commander of the Venezuelan Federal WarFederal War
The Federal War - also known as the Great War or the Five Year War - was a civil war in Venezuela between the conservative party and the liberal party about the monopoly of the conservatives of the land and the government positions, and their reluctance to grant any reforms. This drove the...
. On 18 November 1859, he fights in El Pao of Barcelona, marching thereafter towards El Baúl
El Baúl
El Baúl is a Pre-Columbian archaeological site in present-day Escuintla Department, Guatemala. El Baúl, along with the sites of Bilbao and El Castillo, is part of the Cotzumalhuapa Archaeological sites Zone. It is in the prehistoric Formative stage of the Americas.-Site:The El Baúl acropolis is...
along with Julio César Monagas, in January, 1860. In El Baúl
El Baúl
El Baúl is a Pre-Columbian archaeological site in present-day Escuintla Department, Guatemala. El Baúl, along with the sites of Bilbao and El Castillo, is part of the Cotzumalhuapa Archaeological sites Zone. It is in the prehistoric Formative stage of the Americas.-Site:The El Baúl acropolis is...
, generals Sotillo and Julio César Monagas meet with general Juan Crisóstomo Falcón
Juan Crisóstomo Falcón
Juan Crisóstomo Falcón y Zavarce , was the 20th President of Venezuela as well as military commander during the Federal War. Member of the Liberal party, first served as the supreme chief of a rebel movement in August 1859, but the rebellion was soon crushed. After the Coche treaty, is recognized...
and the Federal armies of the West. On 17 February 1860, he participates in the battle of Coplé, taking control simultaneously of the Eastern column, when general Falcón dissolves a division of the Federal Army as a consequence of the defeat suffered in that battle against general León de Febres Cordero. Earlier that month, on 2 February 1860, general Sotillo's son, José Antonio Sotillo
José Antonio Sotillo
Colonel José Antonio Sotillo was the youngest son of Venezuelan general Juan Antonio Sotillo. In 1858, during the Federal War, he and his brother colonel Miguel Sotillo accompanied their father on a raid through the Province of Barcelona, in eastern Venezuela....
, dies under enemy fire from centralist colonel José López Mercado at El Lecherito. As a consequence of it, his other son, Miguel Sotillo
Miguel Sotillo
Colonel Miguel Sotillo was the oldest son of Venezuelan general Juan Antonio Sotillo. In 1858, during the Federal War, he and his brother José Antonio Sotillo accompanied their father on a raid through the Province of Barcelona, in eastern Venezuela....
, decides to execute all their prisoners in retaliation. However, Sotillo prevents his son from accomplishing this scheme, an outstanding gesture that has always been recognized by Venezuelan historians. Later, when arriving in eastern Venezuela, he establishes a guerrilla operation, from March to May, 1860. Unfortunately, he is defeated in three occasions, the first in El Lecherito in July, 1860; a second one in Aragua, on 16 August; and the last one in Santa Ana, on 21 August 1860.
After these defeats, on 29 March 1860, Sotillo reunites his forces with those of general Julio César Monagas, son of his friend general José Gregorio Monagas
José Gregorio Monagas
José Gregorio Monagas was President of Venezuela 1851-1855 and brother of José Tadeo Monagas.General José Gregorio Monagas was born in Aragua de Barcelona, Venezuela, in 1795. His parents were Francisco José Monagas, a merchant from the Canary Islands, and Perfecta Burgos, a native of Cojedes...
. Months thereafter, Sotillo and Monagas
Monagas
Monagas State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela.Monagas State covers a total surface area of 28,900 km² and, in June 30, 2010, had an estimated population of 908,626....
fight together in the territory of La Mesa de Guanipa in April, 1861. That same year, in October, he signs a short truce, well-known under the name of the Treaty of Santa Ana, with general José Maria Zamora's forces. However, Sotillo takes up his arms to fight in the battle of Las Chaguaramas, on 3 April 1862, where he is once more defeated and his son Miguel is mortally wounded. Julio César Monagas will also die in May that same year as a consequence of his injuries from the Battle of Cureña (11 April 1861).
In March 1863 he continued his guerrilla activities towards the Eastern part of the province of Guárico
Guárico
Guárico State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Juan de Los Morros. Guárico State covers a total surface area of 64 986 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 745,100.-Municipalities and municipal seats:...
and, in August, towards Guayana
Guayana Region
The Guayana Region is an administrative region of Venezuela.The region has a population of 1,383,297 inhabitants and a territory of 458,344 km². It borders the independent nation of Guyana which forms part of The Guyanas...
. After the military triumph of the Federación on 8 April 1862, Sotillo retires to Barcelona where he receives a modest allowance for his military services.
Last years
In 4 March 1868, general Sotillo takes up his arms once last time to rise against the government of general Juan Crisóstomo FalcónJuan Crisóstomo Falcón
Juan Crisóstomo Falcón y Zavarce , was the 20th President of Venezuela as well as military commander during the Federal War. Member of the Liberal party, first served as the supreme chief of a rebel movement in August 1859, but the rebellion was soon crushed. After the Coche treaty, is recognized...
, during the Blue Revolution
Blue Revolution
Blue Revolution is a radio production and syndication company which creates a variety of shows that are broadcast by various radio stations. The company was originally established in 1999. Blue Revolution produces a number of syndicated radio programmes as well as the Radio e-Zine for radio stations...
. Again, he is called on by his former commander and compadre general José Tadeo Monagas
José Tadeo Monagas
José Tadeo Monagas Burgos was President of Venezuela 1847-1851 and 1855–1858, and a hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence...
. In December 1868, José Tadeo Monagas
José Tadeo Monagas
José Tadeo Monagas Burgos was President of Venezuela 1847-1851 and 1855–1858, and a hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence...
dies and Sotillo is named head of the Armies of The Blue Government. In January, 1869, he decides to support the presidential candidacy of José Ruperto Monagas
José Ruperto Monagas
José Ruperto Monagas was President of Venezuela between 1869-1870. Also, he was a son of José Tadeo Monagas.-Biography:...
, son of his compadre the late general Jose Tadeo Monagas. Being then an octogenary, general Sotillo retires from public life after the arrival of general Antonio Guzmán Blanco
Antonio Guzmán Blanco
Antonio Leocadio Guzmán Blanco was President of Venezuela for three separate terms, from 1870–1877, from 1879–1884, and from 1886–1887....
to power in April, 1870.
General Sotillo dies in his hometown of Santa Ana in 1874 and his remains were put to rest in the Venezuelan National Pantheon on 9 January 1878. While alive, he was nicknamed the Centaur
Centaur
In Greek mythology, a centaur or hippocentaur is a member of a composite race of creatures, part human and part horse...
of Santa Ana, after his temper and disposition in battle. Also, two Venezuelan municipalities are named after general Sotillo.
See also
- Simón BolívarSimón BolívarSimón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
- VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
- Antonio Guzmán BlancoAntonio Guzmán BlancoAntonio Leocadio Guzmán Blanco was President of Venezuela for three separate terms, from 1870–1877, from 1879–1884, and from 1886–1887....
- José Antonio PáezJosé Antonio PáezJosé Antonio Páez Herrera was General in Chief of the army fighting Spain during the Venezuelan Wars of Independence, in addition to becoming the President of Venezuela once it was independent of the Gran Colombia...
- Presidents of Venezuela
- Federal WarFederal WarThe Federal War - also known as the Great War or the Five Year War - was a civil war in Venezuela between the conservative party and the liberal party about the monopoly of the conservatives of the land and the government positions, and their reluctance to grant any reforms. This drove the...