Decree of War to the Death

The Decree of War to the Death, in Spanish Decreto de Guerra a Muerte, was a decree issued by the South American separatist leader, Simón Bolívar, which permitted murder and any atrocities whatsoever to be committed against civilians born in Spain (or the Canary Islands), other than those actively assisting South American independence, and furthermore exonerated Latin Americans who had already committed such murders and atrocities. The phrase "War to the Death" was used as a euphemism^{[clarification needed]} for this situation.

The decree was an explicit call to use terror tactics in Bolívar's attempt to maintain Venezuelan independence in the war with Spain, since he felt that the Spanish Army's use of atrocities against those who supported the First Republic of Venezuela had contributed decisively to its defeat.

Bolívar promulgated the decree on June 15, 1813 in the Venezuelan city of Trujillo.

Background

The decree states that it was created as a response to severe crimes and massacres by Spanish soldiers after the fall of the First Republic, in which Spanish leaders allegedly stole property and executed thousands of Republicans: "we could not indifferently watch the afflictions inflicted to you by the barbaric Spaniards, who have annihilated you with robbery and destroyed you with death, infringed the most solemn treaties and capitulations [a reference to the San Mateo Capitulation, 1812]; in one word, committed every crime, reducing the Republic of Venezuela to the most horrific desolation." It proclaimed that all Peninsular people in Spanish America who didn't actively participate in favor of its independence would be killed, and all South Americans would be spared, even if they had cooperated with the Spanish authorities.^[1] (See below for full declaration). The document's ultimate goal was to assure the Venezuelan elites that they would not be unfavorably treated for having collaborated with Domingo de Monteverde and the royalist authorities. The Decree was the first step in transforming the common and legal view of the Venezuelan war of liberation from a mere rebellion (or at best a civil war) taking place in one of Spain's colonies, to a full-fledged international war between two distinct countries, Venezuela and Spain.

Practice of the "Guerra a Muerte"

This so-called Guerra a Muerte, (War to Death) was widely practised on both sides, making way for some extreme brutalities on both sides, such as the execution of Spanish prisoners in Caracas and La Guaira in February 1814, on orders from Bolívar himself, just before the collapse of the Second Republic of Venezuela, and the killing of several renowned citizens in New Granada by the royalist army under Pablo Morillo in 1815, 1816 and 1817.

The status imposed by the Declaration lasted until November 26, 1820, when General Pablo Morillo met with Bolívar to declare the war of independence a conventional war.

Text of the Decree (Spanish)

The Decreto reads:

"Venezolanos: Un ejército de hermanos, enviado por el soberano Congreso de la Nueva Granada, ha venido a libertaros, y ya lo tenéis en medio de vosotros, después de haber expulsado a los opresores de las provincias de Mérida y Trujillo.

Nosotros somos enviados a destruir a los españoles, a proteger a los americanos, y a restablecer los gobiernos republicanos que formaban la Confederación de Venezuela. Los Estados que cubren nuestras armas, están regidos nuevamente por sus Antiguas constituciones y magistrados, gozando plenamente de su libertad e independencia; porque nuestra misión sólo se dirige a romper las cadenas de la servidumbre, que agobian todavía a algunos de nuestros pueblos, sin pretender dar leyes, ni ejercer actos de dominio, a que el derecho de la guerra podría autorizarnos.

Tocados de vuestros infortunios, no hemos podido ver con indiferencia las aflicciones que os hacían experimentar los bárbaros españoles, que os han aniquilado con la rapiña, y os han destruido con la muerte; que han violado los derechos sagrados de las gentes; que han infringido las capitulaciones y los tratados más solemnes; y, en fin, han cometido todos los crímenes, reduciendo la República de Venezuela a la más espantosa desolación. Así pues, la justicia exige la vindicta, y la necesidad nos obliga a tomarla. Que desaparezcan para siempre del suelo colombiano los monstruos que lo infestan y han cubierto de sangre; que su escarmiento sea igual a la enormidad de su perfidia, para lavar de este modo la mancha de nuestra ignominia, y mostrar a las naciones del universo, que no se ofende impunemente a los hijos de América.

A pesar de nuestros justos resentimientos contra los inicuos españoles, nuestro magnánimo corazón se digna, aún, abrirles por la ultima vez una vía a la conciliación y a la amistad; todavía se les invita a vivir pacíficamente entre nosotros, si detestando sus crímenes, y convirtiéndose de buena fe, cooperan con nosotros a la destrucción del gobierno intruso de España, y al restablecimiento de la República de Venezuela.

Todo español que no conspire contra la tiranía en favor de la justa causa, por los medios más activos y eficaces, será tenido por enemigo, y castigado como traidor a la patria y, por consecuencia, será irremisiblemente pasado por las armas. Por el contrario, se concede un indulto general y absoluto a los que pasen a nuestro ejército con sus armas o sin ellas; a los que presten sus auxilios a los buenos ciudadanos que se están esforzando por sacudir el yugo de la tiranía. Se conservarán en sus empleos y destinos a los oficiales de guerra, y magistrados civiles que proclamen el Gobierno de Venezuela, y se unan a nosotros; en una palabra, los españoles que hagan señalados servicios al Estado, serán reputados y tratados como americanos.

Y vosotros, americanos, que el error o la perfidia os ha extraviado de las sendas de la justicia, sabed que vuestros hermanos os perdonan y lamentan sinceramente vuestros descarríos, en la íntima persuasión de que vosotros no podéis ser culpables, y que sólo la ceguedad e ignorancia en que os han tenido hasta el presente los autores de vuestros crímenes, han podido induciros a ellos. No temáis la espada que viene a vengaros y a cortar los lazos ignominiosos con que os ligan a su suerte vuestros verdugos. Contad con una immunidad absoluta en vuestro honor, vida y propiedades; el solo título de americanos será vuestra garantía y salvaguardia. Nuestras armas han venido a protegeros, y no se emplearán jamás contra uno solo de nuestros hermanos.

Esta amnistía se extiende hasta a los mismos traidores que más recientemente hayan cometido actos de felonía; y será tan religiosamente cumplida, que ninguna razón, causa, o pretexto será suficiente para obligarnos a quebrantar nuestra oferta, por grandes y extraordinarios que sean los motivos que nos deis pare excitar nuestra animadversión.

Españoles y Canarios, contad con la muerte, aun siendo indiferentes, si no obráis activamente en obsequio de la libertad de América. Americanos, contad con la vida, aun cuando seáis culpables."

Text of the Decree (English)

Note: The term "Americans" here means natives of the American continent.

"Venezuelans: an army of brothers, sent by the sovereign Congress of New Granada, has come to free you, and it is already amongst you, after evicting the oppressors from the provinces of Mérida and Trujillo.

We are the ones sent to destroy the Spaniards, to protect the Americans, and to reestablish the republican governments that formed the Confederation of Venezuela. The states covering our arms (weapons) are once again ruled by their old constitutions and magistrates, fully enjoying their liberty and independence; for our mission is only to break the chains of servitude, which still oppress some of our peoples, not claiming to create laws, or enforce acts of domination, which the right of war could authorize us to do.

Touched by your misfortunes, we could not indifferently watch the afflictions inflicted to you by the barbaric Spaniards, who have annihilated you with robbery and destroyed you with death, infringed the most solemn treaties and capitulations; in one word, committed every crime, reducing the Republic of Venezuela to the most horrific desolation. It is so that justice demands vindication, and necessity forces us to take it. May the monsters that infest Colombian soil, and have covered it with blood disappear for good; may their punishment be equal to the magnitude of their treason, so that the stain of our ignominy is washed off, and to show the nations of the universe that the sons of America cannot be offended without punishment.

In spite of our just resentments against the iniquitous Spaniards, our magnanimity still deigns itself to open, for the last time, a route to conciliation and friendship; we still invite them to live peacefully among us, if, hating their crimes and turning to good faith, they cooperate with us in the destruction of the intruding government of Spain, and the reestablishment of the Republic of Venezuela.

All Spaniards who do not conspire against tyranny in favor of our just cause, using the most effective and active resources, will be considered enemies, and will be punished as traitors to the homeland, and therefore, will be promptly executed. On the other hand, a general and absolute pardon is issued to all Spaniards who pass into our army, with or without their weapons; to those who offer aid to the good citizens working hard to shake off the shackles of tyranny. War officers and magistrates that proclaim the government of Venezuela and join our cause will keep their destinies and work positions; in one word, all Spaniards who perform service for the State will be reputed and treated as Americans.

And you, Americans, who have been separated from the road of justice by error and perfidy, know that your brothers forgive you and seriously regret your misdeeds, intimately persuaded that you cannot be guilty, and that only the ignorance and blindness imposed on you by the authors of your crimes could cause you to perpetrate them. Do not fear the sword that comes to avenge you and cut the ignominious bindings which tie you to your executioners' fate. Rely on absolute immunity for your honor, life and properties; the mere title of Americans will be you warranty and safeguard. Our weapons have come to protect you, and will never be used against a single one of our brothers.

This amnesty extends to the very traitors who have most recently committed their acts of felony; and will be so religiously carried out that no reason, cause or pretext will be enough to make us break our offer, no matter how extraordinary the reasons you give us to excite our adversity.

Spaniards and Canarians, count on death, even if indifferent, if you do not actively work in favor of the independence of America. Americans, count on life, even if guilty."

(Please note, this English translation is not 100% accurate.)

References

1. ^ Stoan, Pablo Morillo, 47-50.

Biography

• Stoan, Stephen K. Pablo Morillo and Venezuela, 1815-1820. Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1959.

External links

• (Spanish) http://www.analitica.com/bitblio/bolivar/decreto.asp
• (Spanish) http://www.venezuelatuya.com/historia/guerraamuerte.htm

See also