Draft:Antonio Baraya Ricaurte

Antonio Baraya Ricaurte
A full length portrait of Baraya attributed to painter Pedro Jose Figueroa. Museum of Independence
Birth name	Antonio Jose Francisco Baraya Ricaurte
Born	November 6, 1770 Santafe de Bogotá, Viceroyalty of New Granada
Died	July 20, 1816 Bogotá, Viceroyalty of New Granada
Cause of death	Execution
Allegiance	Kingdom of Spain until 1810 Cundinamarca until 1812 United Provinces of New Granada 1812–1816
Service/branch	Spanish Army Army of the Union
Years of service	1783-1816
Rank	Brigadier
Unit	Infantry Militia, Regiment of Discplined Militias of Cavalry of Santafe, Auxiliary Infantry Battalion of Santafe
Commands	Volunteer infantry battalion National Guards, War Commission,
Battles/wars	Colombian War of Independence
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Antonio Baraya Ricaurte was a Neogranadine soldier, politician and martyr who participated in the Colombian War of Independence as well as in the struggle between the federalists and centralists. Baraya was one of the first military leaders for the patriot cause and was also a member of the Supreme Junta of Santafe and signed the Colombian Act of Independence.

Born to a military officer, Baraya joined the Spanish army in 1783. By 1810 he reached the rank of captain in the Auxiliary infantry battalion of Santa Fe where he participated in the Revolt of July 20, 1810 which would lead to the start of the Colombian War of Independence . Baraya together with Jose Maria Moledo arrested their commanding officer Colonel Juan de Sámano and prevented him from putting down the revolt as a result the two were promoted by the newly formed junta. In 1811 he was given the command of 150 troops and marched to Popayán to assist the Patriots there that were under attack by the Spanish forces of Governor Miguel Tacón who had marched to the city to put down the revolt there. Baraya and his troops together with troops from the Confederated Cities of the Cauca Valley defeated the Spanish royalist army on March 28, 1811 at the Battle of Bajo Palacé. As a result he was promoted to the rank Brigadier and given honors by the republican government.

In 1812 during the struggle between federalists and centralists amongst the Neogranadine independence movement, Baraya who originally was part of the centralist faction switched over to federalist faction. He then led the federalist troops in their attack on Santafé, but was defeated. After the two sides signed a truce to fight against the Royalists, Baraya became Secretary of war of New Granada. During the Reconquest of New Granada by the Spanish army under General Pablo Morillo, Baraya was captured and tried for treason and executed by Spanish forces on July 20, 1816.

Early Life

Antonio Jose Francisco Baraya Ricaurte was born on November 6, 1770 in the city of Santafe de Bogota in the Viceroyalty of New Granada a territorial entity of the Spanish Empire. His father was Francisco de Baraya y la Campa, governor and Major Justice of Girón and Antioquia and a Colonel in the Spanish army, who immigrated to New Granada while accompanying then Viceroy Solís, his mother was María Rosalía de Ricaurte. He was baptizied two days later on November 8 in the main cathedral of Santafe.

Military life attracted him very early on. He enlisted in the Spanish royal army in 1783, where he became a Standard Bearer in the infantry militias, on October 4, 1783, he was made part of the Regiment of Disciplined Cavalry Militias of Santafé, unit in which he served for about eleven months. He was then transferred over to a regular army unit; the Auxiliary Infantry Battalion of Santafé, being promoted to cadet in 1784, then to Sub-lieutenant in 1787. He quickly ranked up to Second Lieutenant in 1792, to Lieutenant of Grenadiers in 1800. In 1802 he reached the rank of first lieutenant in 1802. In 1809 he was listed as first lieutenant in the Auxiliary Infantry Battalion of Santafé, his commander was Lieutenant Colonel Juan de Sámano, with whom reportedly he did not have good relations.

War of Independence

Revolt of July 20, 1810

Baraya’s participation in the Revolt of July 20, 1810 would catapult his military career. On that date the creoles of Santa Fe de Bogota following the lead that other cities within the viceroyalty had taken revolted against the viceroy and demanded the formation of a governing junta. Baraya alongside another officer from his battalion Sergeant Major Jose Maria Moledo fraternized with the crowd and refused to put down the revolt and arrested their Spanish commander Colonel Sámano. As a result Baraya was made a member of the Supreme Junta of Santafé, thus junta wanting to defend themselves from a possible Spanish royalist attack proclaimed the creation of a battalion of volunteers to protect the revolution that being the National Guards infantry battalion, Baraya was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and made commander of the newly created battalion.

He achieved the first victory of the independence fighters against the royalists of Miguel Tacón on March 28, 1811, in the so-called battle of Bajo Palacé. After his triumphant entry into Santafé, he was promoted to the rank of Army Brigadier.