Juan Crisóstomo Falcón
Encyclopedia
Juan Crisóstomo Falcón y Zavarce (xwaŋ kriˈsostomo falˈkon i saˈβarse; 27 January 1820 – 29 April 1870), was the 20th President of Venezuela(1863–68) 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 as president of Venezuela. In 1868 a conservative revolution headed by General José Tadeo Monagas
ended with his government. Falcón tried to emigrate to Europe, but died in Martinique
in 1870. The Falcón
state is named after him.
), during the last years of the Venezuelan War of Independence
. Were his parents José Ildefonso Falcón and Josefa Zavarce; was the only male of his family. His sister Estefanía was married to Ezequiel Zamora
. From early age studied at the National School of Coro, learning Christian doctrine, philosophy, literature, arithmetic, grammar, Latin and French. His military career starts defending General José Tadeo Monagas
in the battle of Taratara in 1848, fighting against general Judas Tadeo Piñango.
On 18 August 1849, combats at La Bacoa (Coro
), beating General Francisco Carmona. Defeated the revolution led by José Antonio Páez
, Falcón is designated as responsible for the troops of Maracaibo
. In 1853 was promoted as Brigadier General, stifling the revolt led by Colonel Juan Garcés at the Paraguaná Peninsula
, against the government of José Gregorio Monagas
. Following his military triumph, goes to Barquisimeto
, fighting against General Juan Bautista Rodríguez and capturing general Clemente Fonseca, a Rodríguez ally.
In 1857, was appointed by Congress as Major General and Military Commander of Barquisimeto. The same year married in the town of Jacuque with Luisa Isabel Pachano Muñoz. On 5 March 1858, during the Revolución de Marzo (March Revolution), which occurred in Valencia, Falcón remains loyal to the government of José Tadeo Monagas. While the March Revolution succeeds, after the designation of General Julián Castro
as president and frictions with the Liberal party, an armed conflict starts. Falcón and Ezequiel Zamora, who opposed Castro's government, were persecuted.
On 7 June, 1858, Falcón exiles in the islands of Bonaire, Aruba
and Curaçao
, beginning his work as conductor of the Federal Revolution. On 22 March, 1859 Ezequiel Zamora
starts his invasion to Venezuela by La Vela de Coro
, along with Jose Desiderio, Napoleón Sebastian Arteaga, José Gabriel Ochoa, among others. Meanwhile Falcón was in exile, Zamora assumed the rank of chief of the West Federal Army, declaring the "Independent state of Coro" at the former province of the same name. While Zamora developed intense operations in the western plains, Falcón was in Curaçao deploying efforts for the acquisition of weapons for the success of the Federal campaign.
In mid-1859, lands at Palma Sola. From that, began his active participation in Venezuelan territory, leading the battles of: La Cruz, Barquisimeto, Siquisique, Barquisimeto (second battle), Santa Inés and San Carlos, where Ezequiel Zamora dies. From that moment, Falcón takes the total leadership of the Federalist movement. In the battle of Coplé, on 17 February, 1860, is defeated by General León Febres Cordero. After that, divides the army in three, this action will be severely questioned.
During this time goes to Bogotá
, in search of resources to continue the war, failing at this intention goes to the Antilles. At St. Thomas
, Curaçao, Aruba and Haiti
, gets some resources, marching to Venezuelan in July, 1861. After various military operations in 1861, held in Carabobo a few fruitless peace talks with General José Antonio Páez
, then head of the government.
In 1862, was at the military activity again. Directing the battles of Pureche, El Coruba and Maparí, defeating Colonels Ramón Castillo Marzal, George Sutherland and General Facundo Camero. On 7 April, 1863, advances to Coro, a few days before the signing of the Tratado de Coche (Coche Treaty), that ends with the hostilities between centralist and federalist.
. On 24 December, was elected as provisional president by the same assembly; the next day the Constituent Assembly gave to him the title of Great Citizen and the rank of Marshal. During October, 1864, is elected president, being ratified by the Congress on 18 March, 1865.
In 1863, under his presidency, Venezuela became the first country to abolish capital punishment for all crimes, including serious offenses against the state. In late 1866, resigns from the presidency and retired to Coro
. With the triumph of the Revolución Azul (Blue Revolution), on 25 July, 1868, is expelled from Venezuela.
On 24 April, 1870, when the Revolution commanded by Antonio Guzmán Blanco
triumphs, Juan Crisóstomo Falcón dies in the Fort Toulouse-de-France Hotel, Martinique
, as a result of laryngeal cancer. On 1 May, 1874, by a legislative decree, his remains were transferred to the National Pantheon of Venezuela.
Federal 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...
. 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 as president of Venezuela. In 1868 a conservative revolution headed by 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...
ended with his government. Falcón tried to emigrate to Europe, but died in Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
in 1870. The Falcón
Falcón
Falcón State is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided. The state capital is Coro.-Demographics and geography:Falcón State covers a total surface area of 24,800 km² and, in 2010, had an estimated population of 950,057. The Paraguaná Peninsula is connected to the rest of the...
state is named after him.
Early life and career
Juan Crisóstomo Falcón was born in 1820 at Hato Tarbe (nowadays Falcón stateFalcón
Falcón State is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided. The state capital is Coro.-Demographics and geography:Falcón State covers a total surface area of 24,800 km² and, in 2010, had an estimated population of 950,057. The Paraguaná Peninsula is connected to the rest of the...
), during the last years of the Venezuelan War of Independence
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...
. Were his parents José Ildefonso Falcón and Josefa Zavarce; was the only male of his family. His sister Estefanía was married to Ezequiel Zamora
Ezequiel Zamora
Ezequiel Zamora , 1 February 1817 - 10 January 1860) was a Venezuelan soldier and leader of the Federalists in the Federal War of 1859-1863. His life was marked by the romanticism that characterized liberals of the time....
. From early age studied at the National School of Coro, learning Christian doctrine, philosophy, literature, arithmetic, grammar, Latin and French. His military career starts defending 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 the battle of Taratara in 1848, fighting against general Judas Tadeo Piñango.
On 18 August 1849, combats at La Bacoa (Coro
Santa Ana de Coro
Coro is the capital of Falcón State and the oldest city in the west of Venezuela.-History:The city was founded on July 26, 1527 by Spanish colonists. The name "Coro" is believed to be an indigenous word meaning "wind".The city had a turbulent history in colonial times and suffered a number of...
), beating General Francisco Carmona. Defeated the revolution led by 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...
, Falcón is designated as responsible for the troops of Maracaibo
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
. In 1853 was promoted as Brigadier General, stifling the revolt led by Colonel Juan Garcés at the Paraguaná Peninsula
Paraguaná Peninsula
The Paraguaná Peninsula is a peninsula in Venezuela, situated in the north of Falcón State. The island of Aruba lies 27 km to the north. Bonaire and Curaçao are slightly further away. The Paraguaná Peninsula is connected to the rest of the state by a natural isthmus of Médanos. The Peninsula...
, against 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...
. Following his military triumph, goes to Barquisimeto
Barquisimeto
Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara located in west central Venezuela, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio River.-Overview:...
, fighting against General Juan Bautista Rodríguez and capturing general Clemente Fonseca, a Rodríguez ally.
In 1857, was appointed by Congress as Major General and Military Commander of Barquisimeto. The same year married in the town of Jacuque with Luisa Isabel Pachano Muñoz. On 5 March 1858, during the Revolución de Marzo (March Revolution), which occurred in Valencia, Falcón remains loyal to the government of José Tadeo Monagas. While the March Revolution succeeds, after the designation of General Julián Castro
Julián Castro
- See also :*Venezuela*Presidents of Venezuela...
as president and frictions with the Liberal party, an armed conflict starts. Falcón and Ezequiel Zamora, who opposed Castro's government, were persecuted.
Federal War
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
and Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, beginning his work as conductor of the Federal Revolution. On 22 March, 1859 Ezequiel Zamora
Ezequiel Zamora
Ezequiel Zamora , 1 February 1817 - 10 January 1860) was a Venezuelan soldier and leader of the Federalists in the Federal War of 1859-1863. His life was marked by the romanticism that characterized liberals of the time....
starts his invasion to Venezuela by La Vela de Coro
Santa Ana de Coro
Coro is the capital of Falcón State and the oldest city in the west of Venezuela.-History:The city was founded on July 26, 1527 by Spanish colonists. The name "Coro" is believed to be an indigenous word meaning "wind".The city had a turbulent history in colonial times and suffered a number of...
, along with Jose Desiderio, Napoleón Sebastian Arteaga, José Gabriel Ochoa, among others. Meanwhile Falcón was in exile, Zamora assumed the rank of chief of the West Federal Army, declaring the "Independent state of Coro" at the former province of the same name. While Zamora developed intense operations in the western plains, Falcón was in Curaçao deploying efforts for the acquisition of weapons for the success of the Federal campaign.
In mid-1859, lands at Palma Sola. From that, began his active participation in Venezuelan territory, leading the battles of: La Cruz, Barquisimeto, Siquisique, Barquisimeto (second battle), Santa Inés and San Carlos, where Ezequiel Zamora dies. From that moment, Falcón takes the total leadership of the Federalist movement. In the battle of Coplé, on 17 February, 1860, is defeated by General León Febres Cordero. After that, divides the army in three, this action will be severely questioned.
During this time goes to Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, in search of resources to continue the war, failing at this intention goes to the Antilles. At St. Thomas
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
, Curaçao, Aruba and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, gets some resources, marching to Venezuelan in July, 1861. After various military operations in 1861, held in Carabobo a few fruitless peace talks with 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...
, then head of the government.
In 1862, was at the military activity again. Directing the battles of Pureche, El Coruba and Maparí, defeating Colonels Ramón Castillo Marzal, George Sutherland and General Facundo Camero. On 7 April, 1863, advances to Coro, a few days before the signing of the Tratado de Coche (Coche Treaty), that ends with the hostilities between centralist and federalist.
Presidency and last years
On 17 June, 1863, was appointed as interim President of Venezuela by the Assembly of La VictoriaLa Victoria, Aragua
La Victoria is a city in the state of Aragua in Venezuela.It is famous for the independence battle of 12 February 1814, where José Félix Ribas led a young and inexperienced army that succeeded in halting the royalist troops of José Tomás Boves at La Victoria...
. On 24 December, was elected as provisional president by the same assembly; the next day the Constituent Assembly gave to him the title of Great Citizen and the rank of Marshal. During October, 1864, is elected president, being ratified by the Congress on 18 March, 1865.
In 1863, under his presidency, Venezuela became the first country to abolish capital punishment for all crimes, including serious offenses against the state. In late 1866, resigns from the presidency and retired to Coro
Santa Ana de Coro
Coro is the capital of Falcón State and the oldest city in the west of Venezuela.-History:The city was founded on July 26, 1527 by Spanish colonists. The name "Coro" is believed to be an indigenous word meaning "wind".The city had a turbulent history in colonial times and suffered a number of...
. With the triumph of the Revolución Azul (Blue Revolution), on 25 July, 1868, is expelled from Venezuela.
On 24 April, 1870, when the Revolution commanded by 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....
triumphs, Juan Crisóstomo Falcón dies in the Fort Toulouse-de-France Hotel, Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, as a result of laryngeal cancer. On 1 May, 1874, by a legislative decree, his remains were transferred to the National Pantheon of Venezuela.
See also
- 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...
- Ezequiel ZamoraEzequiel ZamoraEzequiel Zamora , 1 February 1817 - 10 January 1860) was a Venezuelan soldier and leader of the Federalists in the Federal War of 1859-1863. His life was marked by the romanticism that characterized liberals of the time....
- 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...
- Presidents of Venezuela