José Felix Ribas: Encyclopedia II - José Felix Ribas - Early life and the Campaña Admirable

José Felix Ribas - Early life and the Campaña Admirable

Ribas was born the youngest of eleven children borne of distinguished and elite family resident in Caracas. At a young age he wedded Josefa Palacios, the aunt of yet another renowned and celebrated Venezuelan and South American statesman and revolutionary — Simón Bolívar. Ribas commenced his political activities on 19 April 1810, when he began urging his neighbors and friends to involve themselves in the movement to liberate Venezuela from Spanish colonization and rule, as well as enroll in Venezuelan national politics.

During a brief period of Venezuelan independence (the "Second Republic" of Venezuela under the stewardship of Simón Bolívar), Ribas fought in numerous battles of the "Campaña 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 the formidable Royalist (Spanish-supporting) forces under Jose Tomas Boves (but commanded via proxy, while Boves was wounded, by the Royalist Morales). 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 "No podemos optar entre vencer o morir, es necesario vencer" ("We have no choice between victory and death, we must achieve victory"). After many hours of fierce resistance, Republican reinforcements arrived under the command of Campo Elías. It is in honor of this episode of Venezuelan history that modern Venezuelan citizens now celebrate the "Día de la Juventud" ("Day of Youth"). each 12 February.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Early life and the Campaña Admirable", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki