Valencia

Although the newly independent Venezuela proclaimed a democratic government, political power remained in the hands of the whites, and royalist sympathizers took advantage of this to incite rebellion among the disadvantaged classes.

When an uprising occurred in the city of Valencia on the 19th of July, the government force under the Marquis del Toro proved ineffective.

When Congress turned to Miranda to take over command, he agreed under the condition that Bolivar would not accompany him.

The younger man was infuriated by this snub, by his political ally, but was instead given an appointment on del Toro's staff.

Miranda's army duly took control of Valencia and Bolívar distinguished himself in the process during the two battles for control of the city.

The battle would establish Bolívar's credentials as a soldier, but by early 1812, the republican government faced a new enemy in the form of an army led by Domingo de Monteverde that sought to restore Spanish rule.

On the 26th of March 1812, a series of earthquakes ripped through South America, devastating Caracas and encouraging the belief that the revolutionaries were being punished for defying God and the Spanish crown.

Although he had been given explicit orders not to march on Caracas, Bolívar remained true to his character and defied them, leading an army of little more than a thousand men and fighting a series of skirmishes against the larger but less agile Spanish forces.

Thank you for having me.

Valencia, Venezuela.

That's a part of your country.

There's been some good baseball players come out of there.

Yeah, the big cat.

So...

It's kind of fun, you know, to see a lot of players coming from Valencia,

everywhere, Venezuela.

They declare that Ettore Maggiorana definitively did not end his life in 1938.

He was alive between 1955 and 1959, living in Valencia, Venezuela under the assumed surname Bini.

Beanie.

Incredible.