Antonio Valero de Bernabe
|
|
Antonio_Valero_Bernabe.gif
Thumb
Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabe aka The Liberator from Puerto Rico (October 26, 1790 - June 7, 1863), born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, was a military leader who wanted the independence of Puerto Rico and who believed in the formation of a confederation of Latin American nations.
Bernabe's father was an officer in the Spanish Army and his mother 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.
Bernabe was only a recent graduate 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. Bernabe joined the Spanish Army and helped defeat Napoleon's army at the battle of Zaragoza. After this action, Bernabe was awarded many decorations and promoted to the rank of colonel.
When Ferdinand VII assumed the throne of Spain in 1813, Bernabe 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 emigrated to Mexico.
In Mexico he joined the Mexican Revolutionary Army headed by Agustín de Iturbide, and of which Bernabe was named Chief of Staff. He succesfully fought for Mexico's independence from Spain after which Iturbide porclaimed himself Emperor of Mexico. Since Bernabe 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 imprisioned. Bernabe managed to escape from gaol with the help of a group of men that were Pro-Simon Bolívar.
Upon learning of Bolívar's dream of liberating and creating a unified Latin America, including Puerto Rico and Cuba, Bernabe 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 Santander. He subsequently joined Bolívar and fought with him gaining his confidence and made "Military Chief of the Department of Panama", "Governor of Puerto Cabello", "Chief of Staff of Colombia", "Minister of War and Maritime of Venezuela" and, in 1849, was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General by Bolívar.
Bernabe also founded the Liberal Party of Venezuela. Throughout his career he was always loyal to Bolívar with whom he became firm friend. He was later falsely accused of plotting against the Liberator and was sent into exile in St. Thomas with his wife, María Madrid, whom he had married in Spain, and his children.
When Bolívar died in 1830, Bernabe was permitted by the government of Venezuela to serve as an honour guard at his funeral. In 1853 Venezuela honoured Bernabe by presenting him with "The Bust of the Liberator of Venezuela".
In his lifetime, Bernabe was also awarded:
- "The Medal of the Liberators of Mexico",
- "The Bust of the Liberator of Peru", and the
- "Medal del Callao"
Antonio Valero de Bernabé died in Bogotá, Colombia, on June 7, 1863, 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. Bernabe's name is inscribed on the monument but his remains, which were never located, were not placed at the site.
Puerto Rico has also honoured Bernabe's memory by naming schools and avenues after him. There is also a statue of Bernabe in the city of Fajardo where he was born.