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Jose Felix Ribas


Jose Felix Ribas , was a Venezuelan independence leader and hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence.

Early life

Ribas was the last of eleven sons, born to a prominent Caracas family. In his early years, he received a quality education and attended the city's seminary. After finishing his studies, he began working in the agrarian sector. At the age of 21 he married Maria Josefa Palacios, the aunt of Simon Bolivar. He soon became interested in Republican ideals and sympathetic to the revolutionary independence movement.

Ribas became involved in the Conspiracy of 1808, but was taken prisoner after its failure. In his defense, he stated that on the day of the action, he was just heading to a public square to spend time. Actually, Ribas was frequenting the square to meet with other republicans to plan an uprising. He was later freed by the authorities.

When the events of 19 April 1810 took place, it was reported that Ribas was seen travelling throughout the entire city, encouraging people to join-in the demonstrations against Spanish rule. In the aftermath he joined the interim government on April 25, taking charge of the municipality of Caracas.

Military career

Apart from his political functions in the interim government, and despite having no military background, Ribas was named Colonel of the Barlovento Battalion which he helped set up with his own funds. He also maintained some contact with Francisco de Miranda, and offered him all possible support when Miranda arrived in the country. Along with another fellow Republicans, he became a member of the Sociedad Patriotica.

During a brief period of Venezuelan independence (the Second Republic of Venezuela under the stewardship of Simon Bolivar), Ribas fought in numerous battles of the "Campana Admirable"; however the most crucial episode was the battle of La Victoria (12 February 1814) in which he and his fellow comrades succeeded in foiling the advance of Jose Tomas Boves's formidable royalist forces . Ribas won this victory with inexperienced troops, composed mainly of youths, students, and seminary candidates that Ribas has succeeded in recruiting. Ribas told his young soldiers, his charges, before a crucial battle that "We have no choice between victory or death, we must achieve victory" . After many hours of fierce resistance, Republican reinforcements arrived under the command of Vicente Campo Elias. It is in honor of this episode of Venezuelan history that modern Venezuelan citizens now celebrate the "Dia de la Juventud" ("Day of Youth"). each 12 February.

Capture and death after Urica and Maturin

He fought vigorously in the Battle of Urica in which the republican forces lost but his royalist nemesis Boves was killed. After this battle, his forces assisted in offering a last desperate resistance to Morales at the Battle of Maturin; however this effort also was defeated. Ribas, together with a nephew and a faithful servant, was forced to flee from the victorious royalists. However, Ribas was ultimately betrayed to the royalists by a slave. Ribas was then captured. Ribas was executed by beheading. Ribas's lopped off head, after having been fried in cooking oil, was sent to Caracas. There, it was placed in public display within a small cage.

Legacy

Almost two centuries later, Ribas' deeds were commemorated by the current Hugo Chavez government when it named one of the Bolivarian Missions "Mission Ribas" in his honor.

See also

History of Venezuela

Venezuelan War of Independence

Military career of Simon Bolivar

Spanish American wars of independence

References

Jose Felix Ribas

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Jose Felix Ribas


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