Battle of Lake Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela
What happened
The Gran Colombian fleet under Admiral José Prudencio Padilla fought the Spanish royalist squadron under Captain Ángel Laborde. In the Venezuelan War of Independence, the last Spanish ships were anchored in a line near the shore of Lake Maracaibo. Padilla's republican fleet sailed in, closed with them and destroyed or captured most of the Spanish ships. Only three small Spanish schooners escaped.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the last battle of the Venezuelan War of Independence. Spain sent no more reinforcements, and the last Spanish forces left Venezuela soon after.
What came next
The Spanish commander surrendered the remaining forts and ships on 3 August 1823. The last Spanish forces left Venezuelan territory on 5 August.
Did you know?
The battle was fought on 24 July, Simón Bolívar's birthday, and the date is celebrated as Navy Day in Venezuela and Colombia.
Timeline
- 24 June 1821Bolívar wins at Carabobo.
- 24 July 1823The republican fleet wins on Lake Maracaibo.
- 3 August 1823The Spanish surrender their remaining positions.
- 5 August 1823The last Spanish forces leave Venezuela.
- 1962The General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge across the lake is completed.