Battle of Cumana: 210 years ago Mariño entered Barcelona victorious

Published at: 19/08/2024 08:00 AM

On August 19, 1813, Venezuelan patriots liberated the east of the nation and triumphantly entered Barcelona, after the victory of the Battle of Cumaná, where General Santiago Mariño his army ended the Eastern Liberation Campaign with a glorious emancipatory victory.

The Eastern Liberation Campaign -which lasted eight months- came to an end after achieving the liberation of the country's eastern territory -with the exception of Guiana, which remained faithful to the monarchy- in victorious battles such as those of Guiria, Irapa, Maturín, Yaguaraparo, Pampatar and Barcelona.

The Battle of Cumaná -commanded by Mariño - involved 2,000 patriotic soldiers who faced 1,500 realistic soldiers, under the command of the Spaniard Eusebio Antoñanzas. Mariño ordered Manuel Piar to move overland with 700 soldiers, while another contingent was led by sea. After this triumph, Mariño fought a brief fight in Barcelona, in which, after two hours, he managed to escape Antoñanzas and Brigadier Juan Manuel Cajigal.

The Eastern Campaign ended -militarily- with the liberation of important areas of the East and with the unanimous election of Mariño as Chief General of Arms and Liberator of the East in his native Margarita. This achievement gave way to the formation of the Eastern Army, recognized by the Liberator Simon Bolivar as part of the republican forces. Later, and with a group of patriotic soldiers, Mariño managed to assist Bolívar in a confrontation against José Tomás Boves.

Mazo News Team