On February 12 is the date on which one of the most important anniversaries celebrated in Venezuela. This day was decreed by the Constituent Assembly in 1947 as the Venezuelan Youth Day. It was on this same date, but in 1814, when he carried out the Battle of Victory, led by José Félix Ribas.
The battle was represented by two sides. The first of them, that of the royalist forces under Francisco Tomás Morales. The other against the Republicans, led by General José Félix Ribas.
February 12 in Venezuela is a day to remember and praise the courage of young Venezuelans. Anonymous heroes helped consolidate the independence of this Latin American country until the Republic was consolidated.
To remember that in 1814 children and adolescents gave their lives for freedom and that none of their deaths were in vain, the day of Youth is celebrated in Venezuela.
How was the battle of 1814?
This battle represents a very important milestone in the history of Venezuela, as it helped to consolidate its independence. The Republican army was made up mostly of young people between 12 and 20 years of age, seminary students and the University of Caracas.
This occurred because there was a shortage of line soldiers, including Colonel Ramón Ayala's battalion. Faced with such a situation, the young people voluntarily decided to join the army to fight the royalist forces.
The young men were inexperienced in warfare, having never been before a warlike conflict. Most of them did not know how to handle weapons and their parents did not agree to join the army, knowing that there was a high probability that they would perish in battle.
His lack of expertise was no reason not to go into battle. Thus, on February 12, 1814, they set out to confront the battalion of Francisco Tomás Morales.
It was an extremely long and complicated battle. It started at 8 in the morning, ran throughout the afternoon and at 5 in the afternoon it was still not possible to determine which of the two forces had the advantage.
When it was getting dark and the Republicans were still resisting the attacks of the royalists, Vicente Campos Elías, one of José Felix Ribas's allies, appeared on the scene with a battalion of approximately two hundred horsemen. These attack from the rear and help to give a clearer picture in the battle, in favor of the Republicans.
The balance of the Patriots after the battle was quite serious. Of all the seminarians who had enlisted, only six remained. Venezuela was left without priests for a long time.
In the main square of La Victoria, also known as Plaza José Felix Ribas, a monument was erected in honor of this date; a sculpture sculpted by Eloy Palacios that represents Ribas teaching young people how to use a rifle.
References
- Youth Day - February 12. Statistics National Institute. Retrieved on August 25, 2017 from: ine.gov.ve
- Siqueira Camila. February 12 is the Venezuelan Youth Day. Retrieved on August 25, 2017 from: noticias.universia.edu.ve
- Vilchez Javier. On February 12 we celebrate Youth Day. Retrieved on August 25, 2017 from cultura.luz.edu.ve.