Battle of La Victoria (1814)

The battle of La Victoria was a battle of the Venezuelan War of Independence, in which royalist forces under Jose Tomas Boves tried to take the city of La Victoria, led by General José Félix Ribas.

The battle was fought on February 12, 1814. Given the shortage of regular troops, Ribas had to arm a thousand students in colleges and seminaries in the city and other neighboring towns, including 85 students of the Seminary of Santa Rosa de Lima, Caracas. Before going into battle, General Ribas harangued teenagers who accompanied him, ending with these words