José Antonio Páez
Chief of the Llanero cavalry, who led Venezuela out of Gran Colombia and became its first President.
Life
Llanero herdsman
Páez came from a poor family on the Venezuelan plains and worked as a cattle herder in his youth. During the War of Independence he led the fierce Llanero cavalry in campaigns across the country, becoming one of Bolívar's chief generals, and played a decisive role at the Battle of Carabobo in 1821.
Carabobo
In 1830 he led Venezuela out of Gran Colombia and became its first President, dominating Venezuelan politics for nearly twenty years thereafter.
First President
After 1848 he fell from favor and went into exile; in 1861–1863 he briefly ruled as dictator, went into exile again, and died in New York in 1873.
Legacy
Páez was the first strongman leader of independent Venezuela, establishing a tradition of rule by "caudillos" (military strongmen) that lasted for the next century.
Did you know? His remains were brought back to Venezuela in 1888 and interred in the National Pantheon.
Key dates
- 1818Led the llanero cavalry over to Bolívar
- 1821Battle of Carabobo
- 1830Led Venezuelan independence and became its first President
- 1848Fell from favor and went into exile
- 1861Brief dictatorship
- 1873Died in New York