Battles & Campaigns · 1813
Battle of Niquitao
Niquitao, near Boconó, Trujillo, Venezuela
What happened
Venezuelan patriot forces under José Félix Ribas and Rafael Urdaneta fought a Spanish royalist army under José Martí. At dawn the patriot army attacked the royalists. One division hit the centre and another the right wing. After about four hours the patriot cavalry broke through the royalist rearguard and the royalists withdrew.
Why it matters
It was a decisive fight in Bolívar's Admirable Campaign to win back Venezuela.
What came next
The royalists fell back south. The campaign ended in August when Bolívar entered Caracas.
Did you know?
Many of the captured royalist soldiers changed sides and joined the patriots.
Timeline
- 28 Feb 1813Battle of Cúcuta.
- 2 Jul 1813Battle of Niquitao.
- 31 Jul 1813Battle of Taguanes.
- Aug 1813Bolívar enters Caracas (dated 3 or 6 August).