THE 7 MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERS OF THE THOUSAND-DAY WAR - HISTORY - 2025

The important figures of the Thousand Days War were liberals and conservatives and had as references such illustrious people as Manuel Antonio Sanclemente, José Manuel Marroquín, Gabriel Vargas and Rafael Uribe.

The thousand-day war, or three-year war, was a civil war developed in Colombia and what is today, Panama. It took place from October 17, 1899 to November 21, 1902.

The Conservative government repealed the Constitution of 1863 and replaced it with the 1886 Constitution. This provoked the reaction of the Liberal Party, since the new Constitution promoted the hegemony of the Conservative Party in the control of the state.

The war begins with the assault of the liberals to the city of Bucaramanga, provoking the response of the conservatives. They took advantage of the resources of the state, with a regular, well organized and financed army. In turn, the Liberals, never being able to form a homogeneous army, were always at a disadvantage.

The war ended in 1902 with the signing of three treaties:

-Treaty of Neerlandia: signed on October 24, 1902

-Treaty of Wisconsin: signed on November 21, 1902, on the North American ship with that name

-Treaty of Chinácota: Signed on November 21, 1902.

Characters who stood out in the thousand-day war

1- Manuel Antonio Sanclemente

He became president after the conservative group to which he belonged overthrew Sanclemente on July 31, 1900.

It corresponded to him to face the liberal guerrillas and the numerous combats in the Atlantic Coast and Panama, which also received aid from Venezuela, Nicaragua and Ecuador. He negotiated peace with the revolutionaries, which led to the Treaty of Neerlandia.

3- Gabriel Vargas Santos

He supported the liberal rebellion, was appointed by the liberals President of Colombia to overshadow the conservative regime.

4- Rafael Uribe Uribe

He fought in the war as a commanding general on the side of the Liberals. Despite not having a military training, he obtained resounding victories during the war, which earned him the recognition of those close to him. He was one of the signatories of the Treaty of Neerlandia by the liberals.

5- General Benjamín Herrera

With a strong military training, he embraced the liberal rebellion, which caused him many problems. He was the strategist of important liberal triumphs, such as the Battle of Panama.

Recognized even by the United States as one of the most skilled South American strategists.

6- Foción Soto

In 1899 he was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Liberal Army of the North. He had been a candidate in the 1897 elections as vice president, but was defeated by the conservative party. He was in favor of the fact that the only way to come to power was by means of arms.

7- Justo Leonidas Durán

He assumed as military commander in the Department of Magdalena, commanding one of the three liberal armies, the other two under General Herrera and Rafael Uribe. He was the only one who was victorious in all the battles in which he had to act.

The Thousand Day War left Colombia mired in one of the worst economic crises in memory. It also left 100,000 dead and the loss of the territory of present-day Panama.

References

1. Biographies, Marroquín José Manuel. Uribe Uribe, Rafael. Herrera, Benjamin. Recovered from banrepcultural.org.
2. War of the thousand days. Recovered from colombia.com.
3. Historical overview of the war of the thousand days. 1899-1902. (2002). Recovered from Semana.com.
4. Important figures of the thousand-day war. (2014). Recovered from prezi.com.
5. One hundred years of the thousand days. The thousand days in thirty-two steps. (2000).
6. Justo Leonidas Duran. (2015). cronicasdecucuta.blogspot.com.ar.