IN THE RANKS

The Latin American wars of independence took place between 1810 and 1825. With the Spanish Empire weakened by Napoleon’s quest to dominate Europe, the colonies of Venezuela and Nueva Granada were seized by juntas led by idealistic young men. Foremost among them was the well-heeled libertarian Simon Bolívar. He also assembled a diverse host of allies.

THE VOLUNTEERS

WHETHER TO ESCAPE DIRE POVERTY, OR SEEK OUT GLORY, SCORES OF EUROPEANS TRAVELLED TO JOIN THE BOLIVARIAN CAUSE

The most formidable troops ever led by Simon Bolívar were the members of the ‘English Brigade’ or sometimes referred to as the ‘English Legion’. These were expatriates recruited from Britain and promised generous salaries