Bolívar departs Bogotá to suppress uprisings

Political Context. By early 1828, Bolívar had returned to Bogotá after gathering forces in Cartagena. His relationship with Vice President Santander had deteriorated into open enmity due to financial disputes and amnesty issues. A new constituent assembly, the Convention of Ocaña, was scheduled to meet in early 1828 to modify the Colombian constitution, creating a volatile political environment.

Departure from Bogotá. On 16 March 1828, Bolívar left the capital after receiving intelligence regarding a Spanish-backed rebellion in Venezuela. This departure was part of his efforts to maintain control over the Gran Colombia federation, which was facing internal dissent and external threats. The move was intended to suppress uprisings near the Venezuelan border.

Cartagena Connection. Prior to his departure from Bogotá, Bolívar had spent time in Cartagena in July 1827, where he gathered an army. The legacy hint suggests a sidetrack to a rebellion in Cartagena, but the supplied passages do not explicitly detail a specific rebellion in Cartagena occurring during the March 1828 departure window, only his earlier presence there.