Battle of La Victoria
La Victoria, Aragua, Venezuela
What happened
Venezuelan republican forces under José Félix Ribas fought royalist troops loyal to Spain under Francisco Tomás Morales. Royalist forces tried to take the town of La Victoria and cut the link between Caracas and Valencia. With few trained soldiers, Ribas armed about a thousand students from local colleges and seminaries. They fought in the streets all day until reinforcements arrived and the royalists withdrew.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The royalist attempt to split the republic's territory failed. Venezuela still honours the students who fought there.
What came next
In 1947 Venezuela made 12 February, the battle's anniversary, its national Youth Day. It is marked every year in La Victoria.
Did you know?
Eighty-five of the students came from a single seminary in Caracas, the Seminary of Santa Rosa de Lima.
Timeline
- 12 February 1814The republicans win at La Victoria.
- 1895A sculpture by Eloy Palacios is put up in the main square.
- 194712 February becomes Youth Day.