After a series of unsuccessful uprisings , Venezuela , under the leadership of Francisco de Miranda , a Venezuelan marshal who had fought in the American Revolution and the French Revolution , declared independence as the First Republic of Venezuela on 5 July 1811 . This began the Venezuelan War of Independence . A devastating earthquake that struck Caracas in 1812 , together with the rebellion of the Venezuelan '' llaneros '' , helped bring down the republic . Simón Bolívar , new leader of the independentist forces , launched his Admirable Campaign in 1813 from New Granada , retaking most of the territory and beign proclaimed as '' El Libertador '' ( " The Liberator " ) . A second Venezuelan republic was proclaimed on 7 August 1813 , but lasted only a few months before being crushed at the hands of royalist caudillo José Tomás Boves and his personal army of llaneros
earthquake that struck Caracas in 1812
1812 Caracas earthquake
Venezuela