Who Was Simón Bolívar? Latin America’s Liberator, Dreamer—and Tragic Hero
- evesymington
- Apr 12, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 13
As we traveled through Colombia, we noticed that almost every town had a “Plaza Bolívar” in its center, where tree-lined paths radiated from a bronze statue of the revolutionary leader.
Given the ubiquity and apparent veneration of the man, we were surprised to learn that Bolívar died in disgrace at his friend’s house on the Caribbean Coast, his dreams of a united “Gran Colombia” dashed.
We wanted to know: who was this man whose face is etched on money, statues in every plaza you stroll through, and the collective imagination of a whole region? We decided to do some research.
Simón Bolívar didn’t just lead armies; he tried to reshape an entire continent. Latin America is still wrestling with the questions he raised over 200 years ago.
Let’s dive into the saga of Simón Bolívar—the legend, the liberator, and, ultimately, the lonely visionary.
Who Was Simón Bolívar? Born With a Silver Spoon—Fire in His Soul
Born in 1783 into one of the wealthiest families in colonial Venezuela, Simón Bolívar could easily have led a life of luxury. But tragedy struck twice: by the time Bolívar turned 9, both of his parents had died. He was sent to live with relatives, and as a teenager traveled to Europe to continue his education. This trip changed everything.
During his time in Europe, Bolívar was deeply influenced by the French Revolution’s ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, which challenged had recently – and violently – overturned the entrenched monarchy. He saw Napoleon’s invasion of Spain as evidence that empires could fall and that the iron-fisted Spanish crown was vulnerable.
Exposure to Enlightenment ideas further convinced Bolívar that Latin America could achieve its own independence. He saw Latin America as one united people, destined to throw off their oppressors.
Bolívar made a solemn vow in Rome: he would not rest until Latin America was free from Spanish rule.
Bolívar’s World Under the Yoke of Spain
Around 1800, when Simón Bolívar first traveled to Europe, Latin America remained under the heavy grip of Spanish colonial rule, though signs of unrest were growing. Since the late 15th century, when Spain first claimed the “New World” for the crown, the region had suffered centuries of exploitation and brutality. Indigenous populations were decimated through violence, forced labor systems like the encomienda, and diseases brought by Europeans.
Spain extracted vast natural wealth from Latin America—especially silver and gold—totaling hundreds of billions of dollars in today’s money. This stolen wealth enriched the empire while leaving local communities impoverished. The social hierarchy was rigid and racially stratified, with peninsulares (Spaniards born in Spain) at the top, Creoles below them, and Indigenous and African-descended peoples at the bottom, often subjected to forced labor, slavery, and systemic violence.
These injustices bred deep resentment among Creoles, who were denied political power despite their economic influence, and among the wider population that bore the brunt of colonial oppression. As Enlightenment ideals and revolutionary movements spread across the Atlantic, Latin Americans increasingly began to envision a future free from Spanish domination.
The Sword of the South
When Bolívar returned to Venezuela from exile in 1811, his dream of liberating Latin America seemed well-nigh impossible. The Spanish Crown wasn’t going to give up its colonies without a tremendous fight, and Latin America was a chaotic patchwork of royalist strongholds, rebellious juntas, and war-weary civilians. But Bolívar was singularly, obsessively focused on his mission.
What followed was a grueling, decade-long military campaign against the Spanish. Bolívar didn’t lead from the rear—he was on horseback, crossing rivers, sleeping rough in the Andes, and rallying troops who were often poorly equipped, unpaid, and wildly outnumbered. His army was a mix of freed slaves, Indigenous fighters, Afro-Venezuelans, European adventurers, and former Spanish soldiers. Enthusiastic, but also volatile and hard to unify.
One of the boldest military moves of his career came in 1819: the legendary crossing of the Andes to liberate New Granada (modern-day Colombia). Bolívar and his army faced snow-covered mountain passes, high altitude sickness, and near-starvation—yet Bolívar pulled it off with tactical genius and pure force of will. You have to imagine that the Spanish were asking themselves, who was this Simón Bolívar, an orphaned man who came out of nowhere to lead an army against an unbeatable empire?
After the decisive Battle of Boyacá, Bogotá fell, and Bolívar’s legend exploded across the continent.
By the early 1820s, Bolívar had helped liberate:
• Venezuela, his homeland and the launchpad for his revolution.
• Colombia, after stunning victories against Spanish forces.
• Ecuador, with a little help from another independence icon, Antonio José de Sucre.
• Panama, then part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada.
• Peru, which he and Sucre freed after bloody campaigns and political wrangling.
• Bolivia, which became an independent republic in 1825—named in his honor, no less. Bolívar even drafted its first constitution.
Each victory wasn’t just a military triumph—it was a seismic political event. People began to call Bolívar “El Libertador”—The Liberator. And yet, the battle for unity had only just begun.
One Continent, One Dream: Gran Colombia
Bolívar wasn’t just dreaming of individually liberated countries. He envisioned a united Latin America: a powerful federation to resist foreign domination and internal chaos. He called it Gran Colombia, stretching from modern-day Colombia to northern Peru. It was bold, beautiful—and a logistical nightmare. Regional rivalries, elite power struggles, and differing visions fractured the union.
From Liberator to Dictator
Bolívar became President of Gran Colombia in 1819, after the liberation of New Granada (Colombia), while at the same time holding overlapping leadership roles in Peru and later Bolivia (where he briefly served as President). By the mid-1820s, Bolívar was essentially a head of state across multiple republics, directly or indirectly—a unifying figure, but also a centralizing one, which sparked tensions.
By the late 1820s, Bolívar had reached the peak of his power—but also the brink of collapse. After years of war, the grand experiment of Gran Colombia was starting to unravel. Local leaders wanted autonomy, elites distrusted Bolívar’s centralizing vision, and tensions between federalists and centralists turned volatile. On top of that, economic hardship, regional rivalries, and old resentments bubbled over.
Then came 1828.
Bolívar stepped down from the presidency in hopes of ushering in a more democratic system. He called for a constitutional convention in Ocaña, but it quickly fell into chaos. Federalists pushed for decentralization; Bolívar’s supporters wanted to preserve a strong central government. When negotiations broke down, Bolívar saw no way forward but to seize control to preserve the fragile union.
In August 1828, he declared himself dictator of Gran Colombia through a decree—justified, in his eyes, as a temporary measure to save the republic from anarchy. But the move shocked many, even those who once revered him.
The backlash was swift. His inner circle thinned. Political opponents condemned the power grab. And just two months later, in September 1828, an assassination attempt nearly killed him. He narrowly escaped death thanks to the quick thinking of his lover, Manuela Sáenz, who helped him flee through a window—earning her the nickname “the liberator of the Liberator.”
From that point on, Bolívar’s image was tarnished. People saw him as a new incarnation of the very tyranny he claimed to abhor.
By 1830, exhausted, disillusioned, and sick, Bolívar resigned the presidency and left public life. His dream of a united Latin America lay in pieces, and the republics he helped create moved on without him.
A Lonely End
Sick with tuberculosis and broken in spirit, Bolívar died in exile at the age of 47 in Santa Marta, Colombia.
His final words? “If nature opposes us, we will fight against her and make her obey.”
From Disgrace to Immortality: Bolívar’s Image Reborn
Though Simón Bolívar died in 1830 disillusioned and disgraced, his image was gradually reborn as Latin America searched for unifying symbols and foundational myths. In the years that followed, governments and historians reframed him not as a failed autocrat, but as a visionary whose dream of independence and unity had simply been too ambitious for his time. His military triumphs overshadowed the political turmoil of his final years, and monuments, cities, and schools began to bear his name.
By the 20th century, Bolívar had become a symbol claimed across the political spectrum—from nationalist movements to socialist revolutions. His legacy was invoked by everyone from presidents to poets, and today, he stands as a larger-than-life figure: not just a liberator of nations, but a lasting emblem of Latin American identity and independence.
Why Bolívar Still Matters Today
Simón Bolívar’s legacy isn’t just bronze statues and city names. His influence pulses through Latin American politics, culture, and identity to this day.
His vision of a united Latin America still inspires regional integration efforts like Mercosur and CELAC—but achieving lasting unity remains elusive.
Leaders like Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez wrapped their policies in Bolívar’s name, calling their agendas the Bolivarian Revolution. Others use his image to rally nationalism or critique imperialism.
Bolívar’s fight for liberty remains iconic—but so does his slide into authoritarianism. His life invites reflection on what happens when the human propensity to grab power and egalitarian ideals collide.
The Final Word
Simón Bolívar was a liberator, a visionary, and—like all great historical figures—a deeply complex person.
He rose to almost mythic status only to be cast aside by the very people he fought for.
And yet, his legacy lives on: not just in statues and speeches, but in the ongoing struggle for identity, justice, and unity across Latin America.
If you're in Colombia or planning a trip there, you're in the right place! If you're wondering whether Colombia is safe, when to go, how to rent a car, what the roads are like, or how to get around, check out our Colombia Travel Overview.
Here's our 10-day ultimate trip guide, or you can focus on one or two destinations, like Bogotá or the Zona Cafetera. Consider spending extra time on the Caribbean coast (hello, beach time)! Check out our flash trip guide to Cartagena or our road trip along the Caribbean Coast.
On A History Tour? Click below to check out some curated picks for making life easier when traveling with (and without) small children.
Visit GEAR UP For More Outstanding Travel Essentials
Comments