The History of Colombia

One of the greatest honors a nation can bestow on one of its leaders is to put his or her image on a bill or coin. Who are the people who have been so honored in Colombia?

On July 20, 1810, independence leaders in Bogota, Colombia, started a riot which eventually led to the city declaring independence from Spain. Today, July 20 is celebrated in Colombia as Independence day.

Venezuelan Simon Bolivar was the most important leader of South America's Independence movement, which lasted from 1806 to 1825. A brilliant general and visionary politician, he led the liberation of Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. His dream of a strong, united Latin America is still unfulfilled.

In 1819, the War for Independence in Northern South America had stalled. Venezuela, where most of the fighting had taken place, was in ruins. Simon Bolivar decided to take the fight to neighboring New Granada, now Colombia. In his way: the snowcapped peaks of the mighty Andes Mountains.

1819: the War for South American Independence had stalled in Venezuela, where Liberator Simon Bolivar had fought Spanish forces to a stalemate. Crossing the frozen Andes Mountains, Bolivar made for the Viceregal seat at Bogota. In his way was the largest Spanish army in New Granada (Colombia). The two armies met near the Boyaca River in August, 1819, and the fate of South America would be decided…

Of all of the nations of South America, Colombia is perhaps the one with the longest and most tragic history of strife and violence. Most of it has been internal: liberals and conservatives, unable to push their agendas in the political arena, have traditionally taken to the streets to advance their causes with violence.

Francisco de Paula Santander was one of Liberator Simon Bolivar's best friends until they had to jointly rule the young nation of Gran Colombia. The two men became political foes, to the point where many suspect Santander was behind an attempt on Bolivar's life in 1828.

On March 1, 2008, Colombian armed forces stormed across the border into Ecuador to attack an outpost of rebels associated with the FARC, an insurgent group which has been attempting to bring down the Colombian government. Although the raid was a success, it caused an international incident involving the governments of not only Ecuador and Colombia but Venezuela, Mexico and France as well.

Manuela Saénz was the mistress of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator of South America. Much more than simple arm candy for Bolívar, she was an important figure in the Independence movement in her own right, serving as a Colonel in the rebel army.

On April 9, 1948, the poor of Bogota, Colombia, took to the streets after Liberal party leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán was gunned down int he street. The riot that ensued, known as the "Bogotazo," is one of the worst in history.

Pablo Escobar was the greatest Colombian drug lord, whose Medellín cartel once controlled 80% of the cocaine shipped illegally into the United States. Although his personal fortune reached into the billions, his crimes eventually caught up with him and he was killed in a dramatic raid by Colombian security forces in 1993.

The Thousand Days' War, a Civil War fought in Colombia from 1899-1902, devastated the nation and brought about the secession of Panama as an independent nation.

The July 20 Independence Museum in Bogota is a must-see for history buffs visiting Colombia's capital!

In the heart of Bogota, you will find Colombia's National Museum, home to a treasure trove of history and art.