From friendship to war, Simón Bolivar and Francisco de Paula Santander
Throughout the years Simón Bolívar is known as the Liberator of the Homeland and Santander as his most faithful friend and confidant, however, the questions that we even ask ourselves about that strange friendship are why Francisco de PaulaSantander decided to help Simón Bolívar in his cause and how he influenced the same? But the most important thing, why these two great friends ended up fighting to the point that Francisco de Paula Santander was exiled by Simón Bolívar?
Start of friendship
Francisco de Paula Santander (1792-1840) was a military and politicweapons and falling in love with a noble career that later or would collapse of honor and glories. Santander listed in the patriotic ranks like any soldier, even so, his performance made him rise vertiginously until he met the Liberator Simón Bolívar, who was not well known in Colombian territory, although in Venezuela it was already very popular. Initially, Santander did not fit among all the warriors between peasants and llaneros, even so, Bolívar could not put it aside, because both were complemented quite well and in turn united them a strong desire to achieve freedom for their nation. With the passage of time, Santander becomes Bolívar’s right hand and is the one who supports him and helps to achieve various victories or advantages in adverse situations. In the battle of the Boyacá Bridge, a decisive act for independence, Santander performs a wrapping to the realistic troops, generating that Bolívar the attack on the front and Santander avoids his flight from behind achieving the final victory in favor of the patriots.
The beginning of the end
After the union of the liberating campaign, Bolívar and Santander put themselves against, each one defended their ideals which were completely opposed to the other, on the one hand was Bolívar, who was conservative in political matters, wanted a unified government around theNapoleonic Europe leader, and on the other hand was Santander, who was liberal in his political ideas. Federalist, liberal and wanted closer to the Roman Church. In addition to this, between both friends two great clashes arise like this:
- First great shock: The first conflict arises when Francisco de Paula Santander decides not.
- Second great shock: At the end of the battle of the Boyacá bridge and leave victorious of the same, Bolívar and Santander decide to return to Bogotá, Santander decides to stay to exercise the laws that passionate so much, because he had said it at the end of the liberating campaign: "Colombians, weapons have given you independence, but laws will give you freedom" 1;remaining as well as vice president of the new nation and helping Bolivar from there to obtain economic resources and thus continue with the war struggle. However, for more formality that could exist, the rivalry and distinction of ideals caused the creation of two sides, thus unleashing the internal complaint between Bolivarian and Santander, who would later be known as conservative and liberal or centralist and federalists respectively.
Chaos and conflict
Bolívar always trusted Santander to carry out his campaigns, but Santander always looked distrustful the way he wanted to govern. In this way, it begins a meaningless war that only makes the decline of a country that was barely forming. Due to this difference between the two great friends, an internal conflict known as "La Patria Boba" is generated and subsequently "the Spanish reconquest". Bolívar continues to trust and considering Santander as his right hand despite everything. In 1821, the Congress of Cúcuta elected Santander as vice president of the newly constituted Gran Colombia and by the independence struggles of President Simón Bolívar, they leave him in front as the main executive. But the Valencia Convention in May 1826, headed by José Antonio Páez does not accept the subordination to Santander for the recent conflict, which causes Simón Bolívar to return to save the union. In January 1827, Santander sees his diminished authority for what enters rebellion against his friend and boss. Bolívar is unaware of the Ocaña Convention of April 1828, which is supported by Santander and instigates the attack on the Liberator on September 25 known as “the Septembrin conspiracy”, which has as its main objective the death of Simón Bolívar. As a consequence of all this, many ask Santander’s head, however, Bolívar continues to consider it and only condemns him to exile saving his life.
conclusion
Bolívar wanted a united nation, strong and centralized in a single government, while Bolívar took care of this, Santander took care of Colombia’s internal affairs, which would give him the idea of having a federalist government. These discussions on how to govern caused the dissolution of Gran Colombia, making each state an independent country and generating a series of conflicts that have an impact today and cause the backwardness and decline of the country.
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