Legalist Revolution | |||||||
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Part of the Venezuelan civil wars | |||||||
General Joaquín Crespo and the leaders of the Legalist Revolution painting | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Legalist Rebels | Continuist Government | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Joaquín Crespo | Raimundo Andueza Palacio | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
9.000[1]-12.000[2] | 5,000 at the beginning[3] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
10.000 deaths y 6000 wounded in total.[4] |
The Legalist Revolution was a civil war in Venezuela that was caused by the "Continuity movement" of President Raimundo Andueza Palacio who wanted to perpetuate himself in power through a constitutional reform. Although it was constitutionally stipulated that his term would end on 20 February 1892, Andueza planned to reform the Constitution in order to prolong his stay in power for two more years, which is why he was called a Continuationist.[5]
Joaquín Crespo took up arms on March 11 in his power base of "El Totumo", in Guárico state, starting the war that spread to the rest of the country. The government appointed General Sebastián Castañas, commander of the army, to fight the Revolution while Generals Ramón Guerra, Wenceslao Casado and José Manuel Hernández, known as "El Mocho Hernández", joined the Legalist movement of Juan Crespo.