Venezuelan War of Independence 1811-1812

In 1811 Venezuela declared its independence from Spain (July 5, 1811), beginning its wars with that country.

In 1812 Spanish forces led by General Juan Monteverde defeated the Venezuelan revolutionary army, led by Francisco Miranda, which surrendered at La Victoria (July 12, 1812), effectively ending the first phase of the revolutionary war; Simon Bolivar and other revolutionary leaders fled abroad.