MASONS
Manuel Piar, Venezuela's Pardo Hero:
General Manuel Carlos Piar (1777-1817) was an important leader of the independence from Spain movement in northern South America. A skilled naval commander as well as a charismatic leader of men, Piar won several important engagements against the Spanish between 1810 and 1817. After opposing Simon Bolivar, Piar was arrested in 1817 before being tried and executed under orders from Bolivar himself.
Early life of Manuel Piar:
Piar was born in Curacao: his father was a Spanish sailor and his mother a mulatto, or of mixed African-European descent. His mixed race would haunt him his whole career: by 1817 he believed that it had limited how far he would go as a soldier. At a young age, Piar moved to Venezuela with his mother. An extremely intelligent young man, he did not attend school but taught himself many materials and languages.
Piar and Venezuela's Pardos:
As a mixture of black and European, Piar was part of the class known as “pardos,” or “browns.” The pardos held a status one step up from blacks: they were free and many became skilled laborers, but held no positions of influence. In Venezuela, they were a powerful group, far outnumbering creole whites. During the battle for independence, Piar was able to recruit many pardos into his army. A Spanish officer once remarked that Piar was the rebel officer who frightened the Spanish the most: he could have ignited a race war had he wanted which might have turned Venezuela into the next Haiti.
Early militairy career
Starting off as a simple militiaman, Piar served in two revolutions before the age of 35. In Curacao, he helped kick out the British and restore Dutch rule, and in 1807 he went to Haiti to serve in the revolution there. In Haiti, his leadership skills were appreciated and he commanded a warship. He soon became well-known as a skilled military leader and commander. He naturally sympathized with independence movements, and in 1810 he joined the emerging Venezuelan Independence movement.
Early militairy career
Starting off as a simple militiaman, Piar served in two revolutions before the age of 35. In Curacao, he helped kick out the British and restore Dutch rule, and in 1807 he went to Haiti to serve in the revolution there. In Haiti, his leadership skills were appreciated and he commanded a warship. He soon became well-known as a skilled military leader and commander. He naturally sympathized with independence movements, and in 1810 he joined the emerging Venezuelan Independence movement.
Piar During the First Venezuelan Republic
During the First Venezuelan Republic (1810-1812), he was made a second lieutenant and served on a ship in the port of Puerto Cabello. He was skilled enough to temporarily cut off Spanish shipping to the area in spite of limited resources. Like the rest of the leadership, he was forced briefly into exile in Trinidad in 1812 when the republic collapsed. But by 1813 he was back in Venezuela, fighting for independence alongside Santiago Meriño, Francisco Bermudez and others.
Manuel Piar and Simon Bolívar
Although they had much in common, Piar and Simón Bolívar never got along. In 1814, as the Second Venezuelan Republic collapsed, Bolívar sought refuge on Margarita Island, then controlled by Piar: Piar declared Bolívar an outlaw and ordered him arrested briefly. Although Piar later recognized Bolívar’s overall leadership, the Liberator never forgot the affront. In early 1817, Bolívar requested reinforcements from Piar as Spanish forces closed in on him, but Piar refused, preferring to see Bolívar taken out so that he could lead the struggle. Bolívar survived, but he knew he could not trust Piar after that.
Piar the Warlord:
Venezuela was a very chaotic place from 1813 to 1817. It was ruled by different warlords, some of whom, like Piar, fought for independence, and some of whom, like Tomas Boves, fought for Spain. Piar's power base was in Eastern Venezuela, and he occasionally allied himself with other leaders like Meriño or Bolivar, but he would just as often fight for his own interests. Bolívar was the most powerful of the warlords, but the others did not answer to him in anything resembling a chain of command. By 1817 Piar was ignoring most of the other warlords and fighting to free “his” area: the Venezuelan northeast and Guyana.
The Battle of San Felix:
On April 11, 1817, Piar recorded his greatest military victory at the Battle of San Felix. Piar’s rag-tag force of 500 riflemen, 800 spearmen, 500 archers and 400 horsemen met Spanish General La Torre and his force of 1600 well-trained and armed infantry, 200 cavalry and a handful of cannons. Piar’s force was largely comprised of untrained pardos and Indians, yet his tactical skills resulted in a massive victory over the Spanish. Some 400 royalists were killed and another 300 taken prisoner, to less than 100 killed or wounded on the patriot side. Piar ordered the slaughter of the royalist prisoners after the battle.
Insubordination
After San Felix, Bolívar visited Piar near Angostura and brought him back in line, but Piar always felt that it was he, not Bolívar, who should be leading the fight. When ordered to move on Guyana, Piar disobeyed and resigned his commission, claiming that he going to recruit soldiers in the interior of the country. In actuality, he had decided to take on Bolívar as well as the Spanish: he knew the pardos and blacks would flock to his cause. Correctly guessing Piar's intentions, Bolívar ordered his arrest. On July 27 1817, Piar was arrested and dragged back to Angostura tied on the back of a horse like a criminal.
Execution and Legacy of Manuel Piar
Piar was accused of desertion, sedition, insubordination and conspiracy. On October 16, 1817, Piar was taken against a wall and shot: he reportedly met his end bravely and gracefully. Bolívar was in town but did not attend.
The execution of Piar was a mixed benefit for Bolívar. On the plus side, it removed one of the greatest threats to his authority and one that he had personally clashed with on several occasions. Furthermore, it put the other warlords on notice that Bolívar was in charge and that they had better fall in line or meet a similar fate.
The execution of Piar was a costly one for the independence movement, however. Piar was an outstanding general and tactician, and his ability to recruit and keep pardo troops was unmatched. The only ones happier than Bolívar to see Piar go were undoubtedly the Spanish. The execution of this talented ally is a stain on the record of Bolívar, the Great Liberator, perhaps second only in abhorrence to his turning over of Fransisco de Miranda to Spanish authorities in 1812.
Bolívar may have averted a bloodbath, however. Piar had become convinced that those of African descent would never hold power in Venezuela unless they took it for themselves: he himself was the perfect example. When he was arrested, Piar may have been trying to begin a race war, in which pardos and blacks would fight against all whites, whether they were Spanish or Creoles. Given the number of pardos and blacks in Venezuela, any uprising based on racial lines would likely have resulted in a Haiti-style massacre. Piar was no stranger to to-the-death warfare: the massacre of the prisoners after San Felix was hardly an exception, and he once ordered the slaughter of two dozen peaceful priests and monks at an isolated mission.
In spite of his ruthlessness and insubordination to the Great Liberator, history has been kind to Piar. He is considered one of the heroes of Venezuelan independence, and his race, once such a hurdle to his advancement, is now celebrated. Many Venezuelans of color regard him as "their" liberator. He has been symbolically interred in the Venezuelan Pantheon of heroes and an airport and a major, multi-million dollar dam have been named after him.
The execution of Piar was a mixed benefit for Bolívar. On the plus side, it removed one of the greatest threats to his authority and one that he had personally clashed with on several occasions. Furthermore, it put the other warlords on notice that Bolívar was in charge and that they had better fall in line or meet a similar fate.
The execution of Piar was a costly one for the independence movement, however. Piar was an outstanding general and tactician, and his ability to recruit and keep pardo troops was unmatched. The only ones happier than Bolívar to see Piar go were undoubtedly the Spanish. The execution of this talented ally is a stain on the record of Bolívar, the Great Liberator, perhaps second only in abhorrence to his turning over of Fransisco de Miranda to Spanish authorities in 1812.
Bolívar may have averted a bloodbath, however. Piar had become convinced that those of African descent would never hold power in Venezuela unless they took it for themselves: he himself was the perfect example. When he was arrested, Piar may have been trying to begin a race war, in which pardos and blacks would fight against all whites, whether they were Spanish or Creoles. Given the number of pardos and blacks in Venezuela, any uprising based on racial lines would likely have resulted in a Haiti-style massacre. Piar was no stranger to to-the-death warfare: the massacre of the prisoners after San Felix was hardly an exception, and he once ordered the slaughter of two dozen peaceful priests and monks at an isolated mission.
In spite of his ruthlessness and insubordination to the Great Liberator, history has been kind to Piar. He is considered one of the heroes of Venezuelan independence, and his race, once such a hurdle to his advancement, is now celebrated. Many Venezuelans of color regard him as "their" liberator. He has been symbolically interred in the Venezuelan Pantheon of heroes and an airport and a major, multi-million dollar dam have been named after him.
(Sources: Harvey, Robert. Liberators: Latin Amedrica's Struggle for Indeppendence Woodstock: The Overlook Press, 200).
Simon Bolivar: Liberator of Latin America
by Scott S. Smith
Simon Bolivar
by Scott S. Smith
Simon Bolivar
Pedro Luis Brion
Philippus Lodovicus (Pedro Luis) Brión (Curacao 6 juli 1782-Curacao 27 september 1821 was een Curacaos militair en patriot, die in de Venezolaanse onafhankelijkheidsoorlog aan de zijde van de opstandelingen vocht. Aan het einde van zijn carrière was hij was admiraal in de marine van Venezuela en Groot-Colombia
Afkomst
Zijn ouders waren de handelaar Pedro Luis Brión en zijn vrouw María Detrox, die beiden uit de zuidelijke (Oostenrijkse) Nederlanden afkomstig waren. Het gezin verhuisde naar Curacao in 1777.
In 1794 zouden ze hun zoon naar Nederland om zijn studie af te maken.
Slag bij Bergen
Na de verovering van Nederland door de Fransen nam Brión dienst in het leger van de Bataafse republiek om de Britse invasie van Noord-Holland te helpen afslaan. Hij nam deel aan de veldslagen bij Slag bij Bergen en Castricum.. Na door de Britten gevangengenomen te zijn werd hij in het kader van een gevangen ruil weer vrijgelaten na het bestand van Alkmaar.
Curaçao
Na zijn terugkeer naar Curaçao was Brión betrokken bij de revolutionaire beweging op het eiland. Toen het eiland werd bezet door de Britten vluchtte hij naar de Verenigde Staten om economie en scheepvaartkunde te studeren. In 1803 keerde hij terug naar zijn geboorte-eiland toen dat door de Britten weer werd overgedragen aan de Nederlanders. Tussen 1803 en 1807 was Brión werkzaam als zakenman. Bij een aantal gelegenheden wist hij te voorkomen dat de Britten het eiland weer veroverden. Toen dat in 1807 toch gebeurde vluchtte Brión naar het Deense eiland Saint Thomas waar hij zijn werkzaamheden als reder voortzette.
Venezolaanse onafhankelijkheidsoorlog
In 1813 werd hij betrokken bij de Venezolaanse onafhankelijkheidsoorlog en een jaar later werd hij door Simon Bolivar benoemd tot de commandant van een fregat. In 1815 kocht hij in Engeland, het schip Dardo dat met 24 kanonnen was uitgerust. Met behulp van dit schip ondersteunde hij de opstandelingen bij Cartagena de Indias.Na zijn promotie door Bolivar organiseerde hij verschillende expedities langs de kust van Venezuela. Op 2 mei 1816 versloeg Brión de Spanjaarden in de zeeslag bij Los Frailes. Op de dag van zijn overwinning werd bij benoemd tot admiraal door Bolivar. Door hun overwinning hadden de opstandelingen Isla Margaritha onder controle gekregen en daarmee de Venezolaanse kust tot aan Guayana. In 1817 richtte Brión de Venezolaanse Admiraliteit en het korps mariniers op.
Op 3 augustus 1817 zeilde hij met een eskader de rivier de Orinoco op. In de slag van Cabrián versloeg dit eskader een Spaanse vloot van 28 schepen. 14 Spaanse schepen werden buitgemaakt en 1500 zeelieden gevangengenomen. Op 5 november 1817 was Guyana bevrijd en werd Brión tot president van de regeringsraad benoemd. In oktober 1817 was hij voorzitter van de krijgsraad die Manuel Carlos Piar ter dood veroordeelde.
In 1819 leidde Brión een expeditie van 22 schepen naar de kust van het vice-koninkrijk van Granada het tegenwoordige Columbia Samen met een leger onder leiding van generaal Mariano Motilla werden een aantal havensteden aan de mondingen van de Magdalena en de plaatsen Barrangquila en Santa Martabevrijd. Na een meningsverschil met Motilla over hoe de veldtocht verder zou moeten worden geleid, trok Brión zijn vloot terug naar Maracaibo in mei 1821.
Dood
Brión leed aan tuberculose en besloot vanwege het terminale stadium van zijn ziekte in september 1821 terug te keren naar zijn geboorte-eiland. De dag na zijn aankomst overleed hij. In eerste instantie werd hij begraven op het landgoed van zijn familie. De Plantage Rozentak. Op 10 april 1882 werden zijn overblijfselen overgebracht naar het Panteón Nacional in de hoofdstad van Venezuela, Caracas.Hierliggen naast Brión een aantal andere belangrijke personen uit de geschiedenis van Venezuela begraven, zoals Simon Bolivar.
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