Battle of Coro: First Steps Towards Venezuelan Independence

This November 28 marks 214 years since the Battle of Coro, a military confrontation that took place in the context of the early stages of the Venezuelan War of Independence, during the Choir Campaign, between expeditionary forces loyal to the Supreme Junta of Caracas, led by Marquis Francisco Rodríguez del Toro, and the royalist troops loyal to the Regency of Spain.

The Supreme Junta decided to organize an expedition against Coro and Maracaibo led by del Toro, after being recognized in all the provinces except these and Guyana, after the overthrow of Captain General Vicente Emparan. In this regard, the brigadier and governor of Coro, José Ceballos, publicly threatened the nascent government junta, and arrested the commissioners Vicente Tejera, Diego de Jugo and Andrés Moreno, who were sent to negotiate the subjugation of the province.

The objective of the Caracas expedition was to submit to its authority the provinces of Coro and Maracaibo, opposed to the revolutionary movement that began on April 19, 1810. Although the revolutionary forces won the victory, they were unable to hold back Coro and the city was once again occupied by their enemies.

Mazo News Team