Juan Vicente Gomez (1859-1935)
President of Venezuela between 1908 and 1935
Born in La Mulera, Tachira, Venezuela, in the midst of an important family of Andean farmers, Gomez comes from a race adventurous and heroic, outrageous and cruel, wicked and mystical, where concubinage was sometimes an established norm. For some biased biographers, his name belongs to an illustrious lineage of conquerors, founders of cities, heroes and with a scent of sanctity.
Supported by his family, he became a military man, earning the title of General in 1903, during the civil war, in which local revolutionary leaders were subdued and removed throughout Venezuela. Juan Vicente Gomez was a great hero in the process of pacification of the country and was called the “Benemerito”, the hero of Venezuela.
In 1908 he reached the government through a coup d’état. He self-proclaimed Commander of the Army and was president of Venezuela for 27 years. As president Juan Vicente Gomez began Venezuela's oil exploration, providing concessions and significant benefits to foreign corporations. At the same time, and unintentionally, he made Venezuelan farm workers abandon the fields to work with the oil companies, causing the halt of the agricultural development. He managed the country like his personal farm, gave wealth only to their near family and supporters. At the same time his policies impoverished the country, delaying Venezuela’s entry into the twentieth century. During his tenure the prisons were full of political prisoners. At the jails – La Rotunda and Puerto Cabello were the worst – the prisoners received so ruthless medieval tortures. Free thought was revoked, bringing the country into decline and intellectual darkness. Despite being a lover of nature and peasant life, as a consequence of his governance, he indirectly promoted the destruction of both in Venezuela.
On the other hand, at the household level, Gomez is represented in many pictures as good and revered father, remarkably prolific, lovingly surrounded by his many offspring and grandchildren. As he had countless concubines, never was acquired,, neither the knowledge of how many, nor the identity of the numerous children he procreated, some even after he reached the age seventy.
President of Venezuela between 1908 and 1935
Born in La Mulera, Tachira, Venezuela, in the midst of an important family of Andean farmers, Gomez comes from a race adventurous and heroic, outrageous and cruel, wicked and mystical, where concubinage was sometimes an established norm. For some biased biographers, his name belongs to an illustrious lineage of conquerors, founders of cities, heroes and with a scent of sanctity.
Supported by his family, he became a military man, earning the title of General in 1903, during the civil war, in which local revolutionary leaders were subdued and removed throughout Venezuela. Juan Vicente Gomez was a great hero in the process of pacification of the country and was called the “Benemerito”, the hero of Venezuela.
In 1908 he reached the government through a coup d’état. He self-proclaimed Commander of the Army and was president of Venezuela for 27 years. As president Juan Vicente Gomez began Venezuela's oil exploration, providing concessions and significant benefits to foreign corporations. At the same time, and unintentionally, he made Venezuelan farm workers abandon the fields to work with the oil companies, causing the halt of the agricultural development. He managed the country like his personal farm, gave wealth only to their near family and supporters. At the same time his policies impoverished the country, delaying Venezuela’s entry into the twentieth century. During his tenure the prisons were full of political prisoners. At the jails – La Rotunda and Puerto Cabello were the worst – the prisoners received so ruthless medieval tortures. Free thought was revoked, bringing the country into decline and intellectual darkness. Despite being a lover of nature and peasant life, as a consequence of his governance, he indirectly promoted the destruction of both in Venezuela.
On the other hand, at the household level, Gomez is represented in many pictures as good and revered father, remarkably prolific, lovingly surrounded by his many offspring and grandchildren. As he had countless concubines, never was acquired,, neither the knowledge of how many, nor the identity of the numerous children he procreated, some even after he reached the age seventy.
He was the firstborn son of my Great-great-great-grandparents Pedro Cornelio Gomez and Hermenegilda Chacon Alarcon.
My grandfather was Ezequiel Gomez from Venezuela whom we believe was one of Juan Vincente Gomez's illegitimate sons. My Dad was born in San Turce Puerto Rico. Juyan Vincente's predecessor was Cipriano Castro who was exiled to Puerto Rico and waas born in the same village as Juan Vincente Gomez. Any ideas on how I can confirm my suspicions.
ReplyDeleteEzequiel was my father ... 719 930 1577
Deletemy great great grandmother was graciela gomez bello, one of his many daughters. we are on his family tree...
ReplyDeletetry searching there.
but hay if you are, then whats up cousin lol
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DeleteHello, my grandfather was one of Gomez illegitimate children, my uncles resembles Him a lot. I like to know something? I just read in Wikipedia about his family and it says that Gomez had Native american blood, is this true? Anyone knows about this? Thank you.
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