Simon Bolivar Issued The Famous War To Death Decree In 1813

The Spanish soldiers massacred and committed serious crimes in Venezuela once the revolution was put down. Due to this, Bolivar launched his fight to retake Venezuela from New Grenada, which is now Colombia.

The Admirable Campaign, which Bolvar began on May 14, saw the issuance of the Decree of War to the Death, which mandated the execution of all Spaniards in South America who were not actively assisting his army. The Latin Americans who carried out these murders and mayhem were absolved by the decree.

In less than six months, Bolivar advanced all the way to Caracas, where he entered and paraded around on August 6. In October, he drove Monteverde out of Venezuela after defeating him in Puerto Cabello. On his return to Caracas on October 14th, Bolvar was dubbed “The Liberator” (El Libertador) by the city council, continuing a moniker bestowed upon him on May 23rd by the people of Mérida, Venezuela. Bolivar's men were routed, and the city was taken again by those who supported Spanish control, therefore this triumph was fleeting.