José María España and Manuel Gual led an attempted revolution aimed at independence , but the rebellion was put down on 13 July 1797 . Caracas was ultimately the site of the signing of a Declaration of independence on 17 August 1811 . In 1812 , an earthquake destroyed Caracas . The independentist war continued until 24 June 1821 , when Bolívar defeated royalists in the Battle of Carabobo
earthquake destroyed Caracas
1812 Caracas earthquake
Caracas