Battle of Niquitao: A Step Towards the Success of the Admirable Campaign

On July 2, 1813, in the town of Niquitao, Boconó municipality in the state of Trujillo, the Spanish monarchy was defeated in one of the battles that sealed the success of the Admirable Campaign of the Liberator Simon Bolivar, thanks to the emancipatory spirit of the independence leaders José Félix Ribas and Rafael Urdaneta.

With the support of 450 armed Venezuelan men who sacrificed their lives, Ribas and Urdaneta defeated the realistic troops of Colonel José Martí, subordinate of the then governor of Barinas, frigate captain Antonio Tiscar y Pedrosa, who had an army that doubled the number of men to the patriot army.

In the Battle of Niquitao, the royalists, despite having an advantageous position, had to retreat before the emancipating troops and entrenched themselves in a position covered with quite insurmountable rocks that, however, the revolutionaries took on that memorable date.

“General José Félix Ribas, over whom adversity can do nothing, the hero of Niquitao and Los Horcones, will be entitled The Winner of the Tyrants in La Victoria”, as Bolívar called him after the historic action.

Along with the victories of Betijoque and Agua de Obispo, achieved, respectively, on June 4 and 18 of that same year, this important triumph opened the door to the center of the country to the Liberator and allowed his triumphant advance to Caracas, which would culminate on August 6, 1813, successfully closing the Admirable Campaign.

Mazo News Team