Rafael Urdaneta
Venezuelan general
Why this is trending
Interest in “Rafael Urdaneta” spiked on Wikipedia on 2026-02-25.
Categorised under History, this article fits a familiar pattern. Historical topics gain renewed attention when tied to commemorations, documentaries, or current events that echo past episodes.
GlyphSignal tracks these patterns daily, turning raw Wikipedia traffic data into a curated feed of what the world is curious about. Every spike tells a story.
Key Takeaways
- Rafael José Urdaneta y Farías (October 24, 1788 – August 23, 1845) was a Venezuelan general and hero of the Spanish American wars of independence.
- He was an ardent supporter of Simón Bolívar and one of his most trusted and loyal allies.
- He was a son of the marriage between Miguel Jerónimo de Urdaneta y Troconis and María Alejandrina de Farías.
- Prior to the independence war, he was a student of Latin and philosophy.
- Before Gran Colombia was dissolved in 1831, the marriage had enjoyed much popularity.
Rafael José Urdaneta y Farías (October 24, 1788 – August 23, 1845) was a Venezuelan general and hero of the Spanish American wars of independence. After overthrowing President Joaquín Mosquera in a 1830 military coup, he served as President of Gran Colombia from 1830 until 1831 when he was overthrown by José María Obando and José Hilario López. He was an ardent supporter of Simón Bolívar and one of his most trusted and loyal allies.
Personal life
Rafael Urdaneta was born in Maracaibo, Captaincy General of Venezuela, to a prominent family of Spanish descent on October 24, 1788. He was a son of the marriage between Miguel Jerónimo de Urdaneta y Troconis and María Alejandrina de Farías. He began his elementary education in Maracaibo, and his secondary education in Caracas. Prior to the independence war, he was a student of Latin and philosophy.
He married Dolores Vargas París, a young and renowned heroine of the city of Santa Fe, in Santa Fe, Gran Colombia, on August 31, 1822. Before Gran Colombia was dissolved in 1831, the marriage had enjoyed much popularity. However, following the dissolution and the establishment of a dictatorship in the Republic of New Granada, they were forced to flee the country. Upon reaching Maracaibo, Venezuela (Urdaneta's native city), they suffered persecution from General Páez, who had become one of Bolívar's ideological adversaries after the end of the Venezuelan War of Independence. Urdaneta and Dolores were supporters of Bolívar's cause; so they were forced to flee again, this time to Curaçao.
Content sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0
