La Cosiata
La Cosiata, also known as the Revolution of the Morrocoyes, was a political separatist movement that broke out in the city of Valencia, Venezuela, carried out by General José Antonio Páez and Miguel Peña Páez on April 30, 1826, fighting for Venezuelan secession from Gran Colombia.
| La Cosiata | |
|---|---|
| Part of Dissolution of Gran Colombia | |
José Antonio Páez, principal figure in La Cosiata. | |
| Date | 30 April 1826 |
| Location | Venezuela (initially part of Gran Colombia) |
| Caused by | Absolutist government under Cúcuta Constitution |
| Goals | Initially constitutional reform, later secession while maintaining protection from Simón Bolívar |
Initially, the movement fought for reform of the Cúcuta Constitution and a break with the authorities of Santa Fe de Bogotá while maintaining the protection of Simón Bolívar. Some conclude that these events had been foreshadowed since the birth of the Republic of Gran Colombia, since a centralized system was adopted in the hands of the political and economic elites when it was founded. Under the Cúcuta Constitution, the government had become absolutist, and Venezuelan authorities were subject to the decisions of the centralized Senate of Gran Colombia (New Granada, Venezuela and Ecuador); in Peru and Bolivia there was news about a new (but unpopular) lasting constitution. Several regions, including Venezuela, asked for autonomy and the several years of struggle for independence were not in vain. The movement ultimately marked the birth of the Republic of Venezuela.