CASTRO, Cipriano, Venezuelan military leader: b. Capacho, Venezuela, near the frontier of Colombia, about 1855. His parents were Spanish mestizos of the peasant class. He at tended school in Capacho. While still a very young man he took an active part in politics in Capacho, as a Liberal. His first military ex ploit consisted in scoring a moderate success in the so-called "Battle of Capacho" (1896) against Morales, the local representative of the Lopez government. He remained a leader of the Lib eral party in his state until 1892. In that year began Crespo's rebellion against Anducza. Cas tro, supporting Andueza's cause, was victorious in the battle of 15 May 1892, in Tariba, defeat ing Morales who now was under Crespo's com mand. In Caracas, however, the insurgents tri umphed. Crespo entered the capital 6 Oct. 1892. Castro remained in control of Tachira and Merida, but before the end of the year withdrew across the Colombian frontier and bought a farm near Cucuta in the department of Santander. For the next six or seven years he was a farmer and cattle-raiser. Invited by Crespo to take office as head of the custom house at Puerto Cabello, he declined this offer, but promised Crespo not to join his enemies. or attack his government. Andrade was Crespo's successor. Castro went to Caracas and called on the new President. Accounts of this visit differ. Castro's partisans assert that he again refused the tender of an office under the gov ernment; according to another version he was insulted, and left the Yellow House vowing vengeance. When he returned to his home some political friends and relations of Andrade's who lived in Cucuta procured from the Colombian government an order for his arrest. For about two months he was in hiding; then he invaded Venezuela with only 60 men (23 May 1899). His old followers in Tkhira join ing hnn, in three days he collected a force of 1,500. The first skirmish was in the country between San Cristobal and Rubio. In Las Pilas the commander of the government's fron tier troops fell. At Zumbador about 2,000 men led by Morales were defeated. Castro laid siege to San Cristobal, where Peiialosa was strongly entrenched. About 6,000 men under Hernandez were sent against him from Caracas. An inde
cisive engagement occurred. Then Castro left Hernandez in the rear, and marched toward the capital, defeating several government forces on the way. Andrade having fled the country, Castro entered the capital, opened the prison m which Hernandez had been confined for many months, and declared himself "jefe supremo° — neither President nor dictator but °supreme military leader.° The Constituent Assembly made him provisional President of Venezuela, 30 March 1901, and on 20 Feb. 1902 he was elected President for the term of six years. Hernandez promptly revolted, and was put back into prison. Celestino Peraza was the next rebel; and after Peraza came Matos, who intrigued to gain the support of foreign govern ments. He resigned the presidency temporarily on 9 April 1906, but soon resumed it. Castro involved Venezuela in dangerous quarrels abroad; the most important being those with the European creditor nations in 1902-03, with the United States 1904-08, with Colombia and France in 1905. In all these difficulties Castro acted in a high-handed, unprincipled manner. He was re-elected unanimously for a full term in 1905, and proclaimed a general amnesty for all political prisoners. His difficulties with the United States arose over the confiscation of the properties of the New York and BermUdez Asphalt Company. In 1907 Venezuela satisfied her obligations with Great Britain, Germany and Italy in accordance with the awards of The Hague Tribunal. In the same year Castro sup pressed two rebellions with great cruelty, exe cuting many of the leaders and those connected with their plots. Further trouble ensued with the United States over the claims of the New York and BermUdez Asphalt Company. Castro held out but in December 1908 went to Europe to undergo surgical operation. A revolution broke out soon after which placed Vice-Presi dent Juan Vicente Gomez in the presidency. Castro's policy was reversed, and all claims amicably adjusted. Castro made several at tempts to return to Venezuela, but was unsuc cessful. He resided in Spain and France for several years and in 1916 came to the United States. See VENEZUELA.