Victoriano Lorenzo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Victoriano Lorenzo
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| Born | about 1867-1870 Cocle, Panama State, United States of Colombia
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| Died | May 15, 1903 (aged 35–36) Plaza Francia, Panama City, Department of Panama, Colombia
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| Nationality | Panamanian |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Known for | Thousand Days War |
Victoriano Lorenzo is a famous hero in Panamanian history. People still talk about his life and what he fought for. He was born when Panama was part of Colombia. He died during a big war called the Thousand Days War. Soon after his death, Panama became its own country. This happened after many tries since 1830.
Contents
His Early Life and Fight for Rights
Victoriano Lorenzo was born around the 1870s. His family were poor farmers in what is now the Cocle province. He was considered a Cholo, meaning he had mostly indigenous roots with a Spanish cultural background.
People in rural areas, especially Coclé, remember him as an indigenous chief. He continued the fight for land rights and fair representation. His father, Rosa Lorenzo, was also an indigenous leader. Victoriano himself spoke indigenous languages. He even worked in the government as an elected official outside the main city of Penonome.
Fighting for Justice
Victoriano tried many times to solve problems peacefully. He wanted to help indigenous people with their land rights. He also wanted to stop unfair treatment and economic problems. He used the courts and government offices, but he became frustrated.
So, he decided to join forces with the Liberal group. He and his indigenous fighters took up arms when the Thousand Days War began. This war was a big conflict in Colombia. Victoriano allied with the Liberals, who were led by Panamanian patriot Belisario Porras.
He led his troops in a fight on the Pacific coast. They defeated a conservative mayor. This win helped him get weapons from the Liberals. In January 1902, he led his soldiers into battle in Aguadulce. Many soldiers were hurt or killed on both sides.
Later that year, hundreds of Liberal troops came from Nicaragua. Lorenzo sent his secretary to meet them. Victoriano Lorenzo became one of the most wanted men by the Colombian government. He and his wife, Lorenza Ibarra, led their soldiers to a mountain base called La Trinchera. From there, he fought using guerrilla warfare. This means he used surprise attacks and hid in the mountains. He managed to avoid many attempts to capture or kill him.
The End of the War and a Sad Day
The Thousand Days War ended with the Liberals losing. General Benjamín Herrera, who had fought with Lorenzo before, signed a peace treaty. But Victoriano Lorenzo and his followers refused to stop fighting. They wanted to continue their struggle for land and rights.
General Herrera then ordered Lorenzo's arrest. Victoriano Lorenzo was tricked into an ambush. He was executed on May 15, 1903. This happened at Plaza Francia in Panama City. Panama became separate from Colombia less than seven months later. Lorenzo is buried in the Amador Cemetery.
What Happened Next
The people of Panama were very upset about Lorenzo's execution. This public anger led to it being the last recorded execution in Panama. His death also helped convince the Liberals to accept Panama’s separation from Colombia. It also caused the Conservatives to disappear from Panamanian politics for some years. Many indigenous people in Panama believe his death meant they lost their land rights and their voice in the government.
What He Left Behind
Victoriano Lorenzo became a national hero in Panama. Today, you can find several monuments and plaques in his honor. These are in Cocle and Veraguas. Official events are held to celebrate his life and remember his execution. These events happen on the day he died and on November 3, which is Separation Day.
A famous Panamanian figure, Hugo Spadafora, even named a group of fighters after him. This group was called the Victoriano Lorenzo Brigade. They fought against a government in Nicaragua in 1976.
On January 30, 1966, the Panamanian National Assembly officially said his execution was unfair. In 2003, the Mayor of Panama City also declared Lorenzo innocent. A Panamanian poet and writer, Carlos Francisco Chang Marín, often wrote about Lorenzo. He saw Lorenzo as one of the true founders of Panama. For Chang Marín, Lorenzo's life story was like the story of Panama itself.
See also
In Spanish: Victoriano Lorenzo para niños
