Battle of El Fuerte: The people of Margarita gave their lives for the Fatherland

On August 8, 1817, an epic crusade took place in Fort Libertad, today known as Fortín de La Galera, in the city Juan Griego, an epic crusade that after 205 years is recognized as the Battle of the Fort. This hostile event came about as yet another attempt by Spanish marshal Pablo Morillo to take control of the then province of Margarita, after being defeated on July 31 in Cerro de Matasiete by the patriot army under Francisco Esteban Gómez.

The patriots who guarded La Galera fired on the realists, and in the heat of the battle they even threw big rocks at the attackers. An accident in the vaults of the fort where the park was located caused an explosion that killed most of the defenders, the few who survived retreated to the lagoon where they were liquidated by the realists.

This building, combined with the bay of the twilight city - as the city of Juan Griego is called regionally and nationally - is part of the tourist attractions of the region, and the country, representing one of the most important icons of the Venezuelan independence struggle.

Mazo News Team