Background
Juan Crisóstomo Falcón was born in Jadacaquiva on 27 January 1820.
Juan Crisóstomo Falcón was born in Jadacaquiva on 27 January 1820.
He first came into prominence in his home state of Coro (now Falcon) during the administrations of the Monagas brothers, José Tadeo and José Gregorio (1847-1858), as military and political leader of the Liberals there. When José Tadeo Monagas was overthrown by a coalition of Conservatives and disillusioned Liberals under Julián Castro in March 1858, Falcon at first supported Castro. However, when Castro turned against the Liberals, Falcón fled to the Antilles.
In July 1859 Falcón returned to Venezuela with an invading Liberal force. Proclaimed head of the Liberal cause (now rechristened Federalist), with Ezequiel Zamora as its military chief, Falcón assumed the military chieftancy as well after Zamora was killed in battle in January 1860. A series of defeats forced Falcón to flee to Colombia and then the Antilles in April I860. It was more than a year before he was able to return with a new invading force.
This time, the Federal cause was successful. By October 1861 Conservative leader General José Antonio Páez consented to peace negotiations, but agreement proved impossible. Devastating conflict continued through 1862. Finally, in April 1863 Falcón and Páez signed the Treaty of Coche which recognized Federalist victory in the war.
Falcón became provisional president. In 1867 he was overthrown by the so-called Blue Revolution led by José Tadeo Monagas, and went into exile.