Juan Antonio Sotillo

General Juan Antonio Sotillo was a nineteenth century military leader from Venezuela. During his long life, a very uncommon circumstance for a military leader at the time, he served under the army of Venezuelan general Simón Bolívar, as well as in most of the Venezuelan nineteenth century civil wars and military revolts.

Early life

Juan Antonio Sotillo was born in Santa Ana of Anzoátegui, Venezuela, in 1790. Born within a family of humble means, the young Juan Antonio Sotillo initiates his military career in 1815 as a soldier in the Santa Ana cavalry squadron, under the orders of general José Tadeo Monagas. On September 27, 1816, he participates, still under general Monagas' orders, in the battle of El Juncal, against Spanish royalist general Francisco Tomás Morales.

In 1824, Sotillo reaches the rank of general, after fighting in several important campaigns during Venezuela's emancipation war. Later, after the withdrawal of Spanish royalists from Venezuelan territory, he becomes an important military leader at the recently created Republic of Colombia.

Republican life

After the failure of Simón Bolívar's Greater Colombia, Venezuela becomes an independent Republic in 1830. In 1833, Sotillo becomes Commander of the Province of Barcelona, in Eastern Venezuela. Then, in mid 1849, he accompanies general José Laurencio Silva in the Campaign of Guárico, against a revolt headed by general José Antonio Páez.

Always close to the Monagas family clan, Sotillo is named second head of the army during the presidency of José Gregorio Monagas, brother of his "compadre" and former commander general José Tadeo Monagas. Later, in May, 1853, he is called on to fight an attempt to overthrow the government of José Gregorio Monagas. Despite his efforts, Monagas government falls in 1858 and he is forced to exile afterwards. From the island of Trinidad, he attempts to organize, without success, an expedition against Venezuela. In 1859, he joins the Federal cause, taking up arms along with his two children, Miguel Sotillo and José Antonio Sotillo, with whom he commands the campaigns of El Banco de Los Pozos (March 18, 1859) and Las Piedras (April 16, 1859)--where they are defeated by the troops of general José Maria Zamora.

Federal war

In July 1859, Sotillo starts guerrilla warfare in the mountains of El Tigre. At this point, his prestige is worth his appointment as Second Commander of the Venezuelan Federal War. On November 18, 1859, he fights in El Pao of Barcelona, marching thereafter towards El Baúl along with Julio César Monagas, in January, 1860. In El Baúl, generals Sotillo and Julio César Monagas meet with general Juan Crisóstomo Falcón and the Federal armies of the West. On February 17, 1860, he participates in the battle of Coplé, taking control simultaneously of the Eastern column, when general Falcón dissolves a division of the Federal Army as a consequence of the defeat suffered in that battle against general León de Febres Cordero. Earlier that month, on February 2, 1860, general Sotillo's son, José Antonio Sotillo, dies under enemy fire from centralist colonel José López Mercado at El Lecherito. As a consequence of it, his other son, Miguel Sotillo, decides to execute all their prisoners in retaliation. However, Sotillo prevents his son from accomplishing this scheme, an outstanding gesture that has always been recognized by Venezuelan historians. Later, when arriving at Eastern Venezuela, he establishes a guerrilla operation, from March to May, 1860. Unfortunately, he is defeated in three occasions, the first in El Lecherito in July, 1860; a second one in Aragua, on August 16; and the last one in Santa Ana, on August 21, 1860.

After these defeats, on March 29, 1860, Sotillo reunites his forces with those of general Julio César Monagas, son of his friend general José Gregorio Monagas. Months thereafter, Sotillo and Monagas fight together in the territory of La Mesa de Guanipa in April, 1861. That same year, in October, he signs a short truce, well-known under the name of the Treaty of Santa Ana, with general José Maria Zamora's forces. However, Sotillo takes up his arms to fight in the battle of Las Chaguaramas, on April 3, 1862, where he is once more defeated and his son Miguel is mortally wounded. Julio César Monagas will also die in May that same year as a consequence of his injuries from the Battle of Cureña (April 11, 1861).

In March of 1863 he continued his guerrilla activities towards the Eastern part of the province of Guárico and, in August, towards Guayana. After the military triumph of the Federación on April 8, 1862, Sotillo retires to Barcelona where he receives a modest allowance for his military services.

Last years

In March 4, 1868, general Sotillo takes up his arms once last time to rise against the government of general Juan Crisóstomo Falcón, during the Blue Revolution. Again, he is called on by his former commander and "compadre" general José Tadeo Monagas. In December 1868, José Tadeo Monagas dies and Sotillo is named head of the Armies of "The Blue Government". In January, 1869, he decides to support the presidential candidacy of José Ruperto Monagas, son of his compadre the late general Jose Tadeo Monagas. Being then an octogenary, general Sotillo retires from public life after the arrival of general Antonio Guzmán Blanco to power in April, 1870.

General Sotillo dies in his hometown of Santa Ana in 1874 and his remains were put to rest in the Venezuelan National Pantheon on January 9, 1878. While alive, he was nicknamed the Centaur of Santa Ana, after his temper and disposition in battle. Also, two Venezuelan municipalities are named after general Sotillo.

ee also

*Simón Bolívar
*Bolivar's War
*Venezuela
*Antonio Guzmán Blanco
*José Antonio Páez
*Presidents of Venezuela
*Federal War

External links

*es icon [http://www.venezuelatuya.com/biografias/juan_antonio_sotillo.htm "Biografía Juan Antonio Sotillo"] by Frank Rodríguez, "Venezuela Tuya Portal", October 2002, retrieved November 2, 2005.
*es icon [http://www.fpolar.org.ve/encarte/fasciculo11/fasc1106.html "De la Gran Colombia a la Federación 1821 / 1870"] by Fundación Polar, "Historia de Venezuela en Imágenes", retrieved November 2, 2005.