Venezuela

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Venezuela

[Spanish War Ensign 1785-1931]

to 4 Jul 1811;

25 Jul 1812 - 1 Jun 1816

[Venezuela Flag of Junta of
Defense 1810-1811]

3 May 1810 - 4 Jul 1811

Flag of the Junta of Defense

[Venezuela flag
1811-1812,1813-1814]

4 Jul 1811 - 25 Jun 1812;

8 Aug 1813 - 8 Sep 1814

[Flag
of Venezuela 1817-1819]

12 May 1817 - 17 Dec 1819

[Great
Colombia Federal Republic
1819-1830]

17 Dec 1819 - 14 Oct 1830

[Venezuela state flag
1830-1836]

14 Oct 1830 - 20 Apr 1836

[Venezuela state flag
1836-1863]

20 Apr 1836 - 25 Feb 1859;

15 Jun 1859 - 29 Jul 1863

[Venezuela state flag 1859]

25 Feb 1859 - 15 Jun 1859

[Venezuela civil ensign
1863-1905]

29 Jul 1863 - 28 Mar 1905

[Venezuela state flag
1905-1930]

28 Mar 1905 - 15 Jul 1930

[Venezuela state flag
1930-2006]

15 Jul 1930 - 7 Mar 2006

[Venezuela
state flag]

Adopted 7 Mar 2006

Map of Venezuela Hear National Anthem
"Gloria al bravo pueblo"
(Glory to the Brave Nation) Text of National Anthem
Adopted 25 May 1881
(unofficially from 1811) Constitution
(30 Dec 1999; in Spanish)

Capital: Caracas
(Santiago de León de Caracas)
(Santa Ana de Coro
1527 - 1577)
Currency: Bolívar
Digital (VED) from
1 Oct 2021, and Petro
(Petromoneda) (PTR)
from 20 Feb 2018;
Bolívar Soberano (VES)
20 Aug 2018-1 Oct 2021;
Bolívar Fuerte (VEF)
1 Jan 2008-20 Aug 2018;
Bolívar (VEB) 1871 - 1 Jan
2008; 1857-87 Venezuela
Venezolano (VEV); 1830-1857
Venezuela Peso (VEP)
National Holiday: 5 Jul (1811)
Día de la Independencia
(Independence Day) Population: 30,518,260 (2023)

GDP: $269.06 billion (2018) Exports: $83.4 billion (2018)
Imports: $18.43 billion (2018) Ethnic groups: mestizo 63.7%, local white 20%, black 10%,
other white 3.3%, Amerindian 1.3%, other 1.7% (2000)

Total Active Armed Forces: 115,000 (2010)
Merchant marine: 272 ships (2023) Religions: Christian 88.3% (Roman Catholic 71%, Protestant 17%, and 0.3% Mormon), non-Christian 2.7% (others 1.25%, Santería 1%, Muslim 0.4%, Jewish 0.05%), unaffiliated /non-religious 10% (Agnostic 6%, atheist 2%) (2011)

International Organizations/Treaties: ACS, ACTO, AIIB (applicant), AL (observer), ALBA, ANT, APM, BTWC, CAN (Guaido), CAP (observer), Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, CTBT, CWC, ECOWAS (partner), ESCR, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB (Guadio), IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (under review), ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISA (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, LAP, LU, Mercosur (suspended), MIGA, Moon, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OAS (Guaido), OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, OST, PCA, Petrocaribe, SEGIB, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Venezuela
Index Chronology
24 Aug 1499 Discovered and claimed for Spain by Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda, named Venezuola. 1527 Province of Venezuela colonized by Spain, subordinatedto colony of SantoDomingo (seeDominican Republic). 27 Mar 1528 - 1557 Granted to the Welser Bavarian banking house; Spanish resume de facto rule in 1546. 25 Jul 1567 Santiago de Léon de Caracas founded. 27 May 1717 - 11 May 1724 Subordinated to Nueva Granada (see Colombia). 11 May 1724 - 20 Aug 1739 SubordinatedtoSanto Domingo. 20 Aug 1739 - 8 Sep 1777 Subordinatedto Nueva Granada. 2 Dec 1742 Province of Venezuela part of Nueva Granada (seeColombia); but under theaudiencia of Santo Domingo to 1786. 8 Sep 1777 Separate Captaincy-general of Venezuela (incl. Nueva Andalucía, Guyana, Venezuela province, Mérida-La Grita, and Trinidad). 31 Jul 1786 Audienciaof Caracas established. 18 Feb 1797 Province of Trinidad seized by Britain (ceded to the U.K. 1802)(seeTrinidad and Tobago). 19 Apr 1810 Local junta, acting nominally in favor of deposed King Fernando VII dethroned by Napoleon, depose the viceroy. 19 Apr 1810 - 8 Nov 1823 Venezuelan war of independence.14 Jul 1811 Independence (United States of Venezuela [Estados Unidos de Venezuela], alsostyled Venezuelan Confederation [Confederación Venezolana], or UnitedProvinces of Venezuela [Provincias Unidas de Venezuela] to 3 Apr 1812, or 3 Apr 1812 - 8 Sep 1813, the American Confederation of Venezuela on the Southern Continent [Confederación Americana de Venezuela en el Continente Meridional]). 25 Jul 1812 - 8 Aug 1813 Reconquest by Spain. 8 Aug 1813 - 8 Sep 1814 Insurrectional government (United States of Venezuela[Estados Unidos de Venezuela]). 8 Sep 1814 - 7 May 1816 Reverts to Spain. 7 May 1816 Renewed independence (Republic of Venezuela [República de Venezuela]). 17 Dec 1819 Incorporation into Great Colombia (seeColombia), as Department of Venezuela (Departamento de Venezuela). 8 Oct 1821 Territory of Departamento de Venezuela is reconstituted as departamentos of Orinoco, Venezuela and Zulia, in accordance with a law passed by Congress of Gran Colombia 2 Oct 1821 (Departamento de Venezuela continued to exist within the borders of the provinces of Caracas and Barinas). 8 Nov 1823 Puerto Cabello, the last Spanish royalist base, surrenders.13 Jan 1830 Independence from Great Colombia(State of Venezuela [Estado de Venezuela], style continues in some officialuse to 20 Jan 1835). 24 Oct 1830 Republic of Venezuela(República de Venezuela). 22 Jun 1846 Spain recognizes the independence of Venezuela. 3 May 1864 United States of Venezuela(Estados Unidos de Venezuela). 9 Dec 1902 – 19 Feb 1903 Germany, Italy, and U.K. imposed a naval blockade.15 Apr 1953 Republic of Venezuela(República de Venezuela). 30 Dec 1999 Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela(República Bolivariana de Venezuela). 12 Apr 2002 Republic of Venezuela (República de Venezuela). 13 Apr 2002 Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (República Bolivariana de Venezuela).3 Dec 2023 Venezuela holds a referendum, claiming the Guayana Esequiba region of Guyana, with 98% - 2% support.

States
(from 1989)

Aves Island

Governors 17 Nov 1527 - 24 Feb 1529 Juan Martínez de Ampués (Ampíes) (d. 1533) 24 Feb 1529 - Aug 1529 Ambrosio de Alfinger (1st time) (b. 1500? - d. 1533) (= AmbrosiusDalfigner) Aug 1529 - 18 Apr 1530 Luis Sarmiento (acting) 18 Apr 1530 - 3 May 1530 Juan Alemán (=Hans Seissenhoffer) (d. 1532) (acting) 3 May 1530 - 1 Aug 1530 Ambrosio de Alfinger (2nd time) (s.a.) 1 Aug 1530 - 12 Sep 1530 Nicolás Federman(acting) (b. 1506 - d. 1542) (= Nicolaus Federmann der Jüngere) 27 Jan 1531 - 12 Jun 1531 Ambrosio de Alfinger (3rd time) (s.a.) 12 Jun 1531 - 2 Nov 1533 Bartolomé de Santillana (acting) (d. af.1534) (= Bartholomeus Sayler) 2 Nov 1533 - 1534 Francisco Gallegos + Pedro de San Martín (alcaldes)1534 - 1 Jan 1535 Rodrigo de Bastidas,obispo (b. c.1480 - d. 1570) de Venezuela (1st time)(interim) 1 Jan 1535 - 6 Feb 1535 Alonso Vásquez de Acuña (acting) (b. c.1500 - d. 1564) 6 Feb 1535 - 11 Jun 1540 Jorge de Espira (b. 1500? - d. 1540) (= Georg Hohermut von Speyer) 1535 - 1 Jan 1537 Francisco Venegas (d. 1594) (acting forEspira) 1 Jan 1537 - 6 Jul 1537 Pedro de Cuevas (acting forEspira) 6 Jul 1537 - 27 May 1538 Antonio Navarro (acting for Espira)1539 - 7 Dec 1540 Juan Ruiz de Villegas Maldonado (b. 1509 - d. 1553) (acting forEspirato 11 Jun 1540) 7 Dec 1540 - 2 Jan 1542 Rodrigo de Bastidas, obispo (s.a.) de Venezuela (2nd time) (interim) 2 Jan 1542 - 1543? Diego de Boisa (Buiza)(acting) (b c.1500 - d. af1542) Jan? 1543 - Sep 1544 Enrique Rembolt (Rembold)(acting) (b. c.1500 - d. 1544) (= Heinrich Remboldt) Sep 1544 - 1 Jan 1545 Bernardino Manso + Juan de Bonilla (alcaldes) 1 Jan 1545 - Jan? 1546 Juan de Carvajal (interim) (b. 1509 - d. 1546)Jan? 1546 - 9 Jun 1546 Juan de Frías (acting) (b. c.1500 - d. 15..) 9 Jun 1546 - Dec 1548 Juan Pérez de Tolosa (b. c.1490 - d. 1549) Dec 1548 - 14 Jul 1549 Alcaldes 14 Jul 1549 - 12 Jun 1553 Juan Ruíz de Villegas y Maldonado (b. 1509 - d. 1553) (interim) 12 Jun 1553 - 1557 Alonso Arias de Villasinda (d. 1557) 1557 - 7 Jun 1558 Alcaldes 7 Jun 1558 - 2 Aug 1559 Gutierre de la Peña Langayo (d. 1570) (interim) 2 Aug 1559 - Nov 1561 Pablo Collado (d. af.1567) Nov 1561 - 3 Sep 1562 Alonso Bernáldez de Quirós (b. c.1530 - d. af.1585) (1st time) 3 Sep 1562 - 23 Jun 1563 Alonso Pérez de Manzanedo (d. 1563) 23 Jun 1563 - 1 Jan 1564 Alcaldes 1 Jan 1564 - 12 May 1566 Alonso Bernáldez de Quirós (s.a.) (2nd time) (acting) 12 May 1566 - 23 May 1569 Pedro Ponce de León yRiquelme (d. 1584) 23 May 1569 - 20 Dec 1569 Alcaldes 20 Dec 1569 - 5 Dec 1570 Francisco Hernández de Cháves (acting) 5 Dec 1570 - Mar/Apr 1576 Diego de Mazariegos (d. 1576) Mar/Apr 1576 - 8 May 1576Alcaldes 8 May 1576 - 10 Nov 1583 Juan de Pimentel (d. af.1586) 10 Nov 1583 - Nov 1589 Luis Rojas y Mendoza Nov 1589 - 13 Jun 1596 Diego de Osorio y Villegas (b. 1540 - d. 1601) 13 Jun 1596 - 7 Apr 1597 Alcaldes 7 Apr 1597 - 15 Apr 1600 Gonzalo de Piña y Ludueña (b. 1545 - d. 1600) 15 Apr 1600 - 18 Sep 1600 Diego Vázquez de Escobedo (b. c.1566 - d. 1609) + Juan Martínez de Villela (b. 1579 - d. 16..) (alcaldes)18 Sep 1600 - Jul? 1602 Alonso Arias Vaca (interim) (b. c.1546 - d. c.1612) Jul? 1602 - 6? Jul 1603 Alonso Suárez del Castillo (b. 15.. - d. 1603) 6 Jul 1603 - 27 Oct 1603 Tomás de Aguirre y Guezala (b. 1565 - d. 16..) (Gresala) y Plasencia + Rodrigo de LeónSalazar (alcaldes)27 Oct 1603 - 7 Feb 1606 Francisco Mejía de Godoy (b. 15.. - d. af.1606) 7 Feb 1606 - 1 Jun 1611 Sancho de Alquiza (b. 1565? - d. 1619) 1 Jun 1611 - 15 Jun 1616 García Girón (d. af.1617) 15 Jun 1616 - 14 Jul 1621 Francisco de la Hoz Berrio y Oruña (b. 1579 - d. 1622) 14 Jul 1621 - 10 Apr 1623 Juan Tribiño Guillamas (d. 1623) 10 Apr 1623 - 12 Sep 1623 Alonso Félix de Aguilar (1st time)(b. c.1580 - d. 1639) + Alonso Rodríguez Santos (d. 1624) (1st time) (alcaldes)12 Sep 1623 - 31 Dec 1623 Diego Gil de la Sierpa (interim) 31 Dec 1623 - 30 May 1624 Alonso Félix de Aguilar (2nd time) (s.a.) + Alonso Rodríguez Santos (s.a.) (2nd time)(to 1 Jan 1624) + Nicolás de Peñalosa (from 1 Jan 1624) (alcaldes) 30 May 1624 - 19 Jun 1630 Juan Manuel de Meneses y Padilla, (b. c.1595 - d. 1645) marqués de Marianela 19 Jun 1630 - 28 Oct 1637 Francisco Núñez Melián (b. 15.. - d. 1644) 28 Oct 1637 - 29 Feb 1644 Ruy Fernández de Fuenmayor (b. 1603 - d. 1651) 29 Feb 1644 - 24 Apr 1649 Marcos Gedler Calatayud y Toledo (d. c.1650) 24 Apr 1649 - 14 Jul 1651 Pedro de León Villarroel (b. c.1600 - d. 1651) Alcaldes14 Jul 1651 - 1 Jan 1652 Bernabé Loreto de Silva y (b. 1585 - d. 16..) Vasconcelos + Juan del Corro 1 Jan 1652 - 13 May 1652 Agustín Gutiérrez de Lugo + Tomás deAguirrey Guezala (s.a.) (Gresala) y Plasencia 13 May 1652 - 29? Dec 1653 Diego Francisco de Quero y Figueroa(b. 1614 - d. 16..) (acting) 29? Dec 1653 - 1 Jan 1654 Gonzalo de los Ríos Almendárizde Rebolledo + Melchor de la Riva Herreray (b. 1604 - d. 1677) Gamez 1 Jan 1654 - 14 Jun 1654 Luis Arias de Altamiranoy Aragón (b. 1624 - d. ....) + Pedro Alonso Hurtado de (b. 1619 - d. 1679) Monasterios y Mendoza Governors14 Jun 1654 - 20 Oct 1655 Martín de Robles y Villafañe (b. 16.. - d. 1663) 20 Oct 1655 - 1 Jan 1656 Lorenzo de Ponte y Villela (b. 1605 - d. 1675) + Juan Sáenz de la Varguillay (d. 1662) Heredia (alcaldes) 1 Jan 1656 - 15 May 1656 Lázaro Vásquez de Rojas y Alfaro (b. 1616 - d. 1663) + Ortuño de Tovar y Bañes de Mendieta (alcaldes)15 May 1656 - 22 Jul 1656 Rodrigo de Bastidas y Peñalosa (b. 1614 - d. 1683)22 Jul 1656 - 25 Jul 1658 Andrés de Vera y Moscoso (interim) 25 Jul 1658 - 20 Dec 1664 Pedro de Porres Toledo y (b. 1616 - d. 1665?) Vosmediano, conde de Dabois, vizconde de Booyo 20 Dec 1664 - 9 Oct 1669 Félix Garci-González de León (d. af.1675) 9 Oct 1669 - 11 Sep 1673 Fernando de Villegas (d. af.1673) 11 Sep 1673 - 13 Sep 1674 Francisco Dávila Orejón y Gastón (b. 1617 - d. 1674) 13 Sep 1674 - 1 Jan 1675 Pedro Jaspe de Montenegro (b. c.1625 - d. 1691) + Diego Fernández de Araujo (d. 1681) (alcaldes) 1 Jan 1675 - 1 Jan 1677 Manuel Felipe de Tovar y Bañes (b. c.1618 - d. 1677) de Mendieta + Domingo Galindo y Sayas(Zayas) (d. c.1641 - d. ....) (alcaldes) 1 Jan 1677 - 13 Jul 1677 Pedro Ruiz de Arguinzonis y Laris (b. c.1646 - d. c.1699) (from 10 Jan 1677) + Juan Nuño Rodríguez de Freitas (d. af.1722) (alcaldes)13 Jul 1677 - 22 Dec 1682 Francisco de Alberró (d. af.1682) 22 Dec 1682 - 19 Mar 1688 Diego de Melo Maldonado (d. af.1688) 19 Mar 1688 - 19 May 1692 Diego Jiménez de Enciso, marqués (b. 1658 - d. 1704) del Casal de los Griegos 19 May 1692 - 23 Dec 1693 Diego Bartolomé Bravo de Anaya (b. 1657 - d. c.1703) 23 Dec 1693 - 9 Apr 1699 Francisco de Berrotarán y Gainza (b. c.1661 - d. 1713) (1st time) 9 Apr 1699 - 17 Nov 1704 Nicolás Eugenio de Ponte y Hoyo (b. 1667 - d. 1705) 17 Nov 1704 - 21 Nov 1704 Felipe Rodríguez de la Madríz + Francisco Alonso Gily Lovera de (d. 1779) Otáñez (alcaldes)21 Nov 1705 - 8 May 1706 Francisco de Berrotarán y Gainza, (s.a.) marqués del Valle de Santiago (2nd time)(interim) 8 May 1706 - 6 Jul 1711 Fernando de Rojas y Mendoza (d. 1711) 6 Jul 1711 - 22 Sep 1714 José Francisco de Cañas y Merino (b. 1671 - d. 17..) 22 Sep 1714 - 1 Jan 1715 Antonio Marcelino Ascanio y Tovar (b. 1681 - d. 1742) + Juan Luis Arias Altamirano y (b. 1660 - d. 1722) Quijano (alcaldes) 1 Jan 1715 - 13 Jan 1715 Francisco Felipe Mijares de (b. 1674 - d. 1739) Solórzano y Tovar, marqués de Mijares + Juan Julián de Ibarray Herrera (b. 1674 - d. 1721) (alcaldes)13 Jan 1715 - 4 Jul 1716 Alberto de Bertodano y Navarra (b. 1660 - d. 1722) (interim) 4 Jul 1716 - 7 Nov 1720 Marcos Francisco de Betancourt y (b. 1663 - d. 1725) Castro 7 Nov 1720 - 1 Jan 1721 Antonio Blanco Infante (1st time) + Mateo Ignacio Gedler y Aguirre (b. 1686 - d. 1737) (alcaldes) 1 Jan 1721 - 4 May 1721 Alejandro Blanco de Villegas (b. 1663 - d. 1724) + Juan de Bolívar y Martínez de (b. 1665 - d. 1731) Villegas (alcaldes) 4 May 1721 - 11 Dec 1721 Antonio José Álvarez de Abréu, (b. 1683 - d. 1756) marqués de la Regalía (acting) 11 Dec 1721 - 21 Mar 1723 Diego de Portales y Meneses (b. 1689 - d. 17..) (1st time)21 Mar 1723 - Nov 1723 Miguel Andrés de Ascanio y Tovar (b. 1685 - d. 1768) + Juan Blanco Infante (2nd time) Nov 1723 - 24 Feb 1724 Diego de Portales y Meneses (s.a.) (2nd time) 24 Feb 1724 - 1 Jan 1725 Francisco Carlos de Herrera y (b. 1671 - d. 1730) Ascanio + Ruy Fernández de Fuenmayor (alcaldes) 1 Jan 1725 - 25 Jun 1726 Gerónimo de RadaSifuentes y (b. 1663 - d. 1749) Escobar + Miguel Rengifo Pimentel (d. af.1735) (alcaldes)25 Jun 1726 - 15 Jul 1726 Domingo Antonio de Tovar + Antonio de Liendo y Blanco (b. 1704 - d. 1761) (alcaldes) 15 Jul 1726 - 29 Jun 1728 Diego de Portales y Meneses (s.a.) (3rd time) 29 Jun 1728 - 31 Aug 1730 Lope Carrillo de Andrade Sotomayor(d. 1730) y Pimentel 31 Aug 1730 - 15 Dec 1732 Sebastián García de la Torre 15 Dec 1732 - 6 Oct 1737 Martín de Lardizábal y Elorza (d. 1740) 6 Oct 1737 - 12 Jun 1747 Gabriel José de Zuloaga y Moyúa, (b. 1684 - d. 1764) conde de al Torre Alta 12 Jun 1747 - 1 Dec 1749 Luis Francisco de Castellanos 1 Dec 1749 - 22 Jun 1751 Fray Julián de Arriaga y Rivera (b. 1700 - d. 1776) 22 Jun 1751 - 9 Sep 1757 Felipe Nicolás Ricardos (b. 1689 - d. c.1761) 9 Sep 1757 - 12 Nov 1763 Felipe Ramírez de Estenoz (b. 1728 - d. 1764) 12 Nov 1763 - 4 Apr 1771 José Solano y Bote,marqués (b. 1726 - d. 1806) del Socorro 4 Apr 1771 - 21 Oct 1771 Felipe de Font de Viela y Ondiano, (b. 1725 - d. 1784) marqués de la Torre 21 Oct 1771 - 25 Feb 1772 Francisco de Arce (b. 1724 - d. 1786) 25 Feb 1772 - 17 Jun 1777 José Carlos de Agüero González (b.1712 – d. c.1780) 17 Jun 1777 - 8 Sep 1777 Luis de Unzaga y Amézaga (b. 1721 - d. 1790) Governors and Captains-general 8 Sep 1777 - 10 Dec 1782 Luis de Unzaga y Amézaga (s.a.) 10 Dec 1782 - 24 Dec 1782 Pedro de Nava (acting) 24 Dec 1782 - 14 Feb 1786 Manuel González Aguilar Torres de (d. 1788) Navarra y Montoya 14 Feb 1786 - 1 Oct 1792 Juan Joséde Guillelmi y Andrada- (b. 1744 - d. 1792) Vanderwilde 1 Oct 1792 - 10 Jan 1799 Pedro Carbonell Pinto Vigo y (b. 1720 - d. 1805) Correa 10 Jan 1799 - 6 Apr 1799 Joaquín de Zubillaga (acting) (d. af.1799) (Subillaga) 6 Apr 1799 - 9 Oct 1807 Manuel de Guevara y Vasconcelos (b. 1740 - d. 1807) 9 Oct 1807 - 19 May 1809 Juan de Casas y Barrera (acting) (b. 1740 - d. c.1810) 19 May 1809 - 19 Apr 1810 Vicente de Emparan y Orbe (b. 1747 - d. 1820) 19 Apr 1810 - 22 Jun 1812 Fernando Miyares y Gonzáles (b. 1749 - d. 1818) 3 Sep 1812 - 28 Dec 1813 Juan Domingo de Monteverde (b. 1772 - d. 1832) 28 Dec 1813 - 14 Aug 1814 Juan Manuel Cagigal y Niño (b. 1754 - d. 1823) 14 Aug 1814 - 1 Dec 1814 José Tomás Boves Rodríguez (b. 1782 - d. 1814) 1 Dec 1815 - 1 Dec 1820 Pablo Morillo y Morillo (b. 1775 - d. 1837) 1 Dec 1820 - 24 Jun 1821 Miguel de La Torre y Pando (b. 1786 - d. 1843) 24 Jun 1821 - 3 Aug 1823 Francisco Tomás Morales (nominal) (b. 1791 - d. 1844)Presidents of Junta in Defense of the Rule of Fernando VII (later, Revolutionary Junta) 19 Apr 1810 - Aug 1810 José de las Llamosas Aug 1810 - 2 Mar 1811 Martín Tovar Ponte (b. 1772 - d. 1843) President of the General Congress of the United Provinces of Venezuela 2 Mar 1811 - 28 Mar 1811 Felipe Fermín Paúl (b. 1777 - d. 1843) Supreme Executive Power(president rotating weekly) 28 Mar 1811 - 3 Apr 1812 First Triumvirate¹ - José Cristóbal Hurtado de (b. 1772 - d. 1829) Mendoza y Montilla - Juan de Escalona y Ruiz de (b. 1768 - d. 1833) Arguinzones - Baltasar Padrón (b. 17.. - d. 1817) Provisional Supreme Executive Power(president rotating weekly) 3 Apr 1812 - 19 May 1812 Second Triumvirate (continuing nominally to 25 Jul 1812) - Francisco Javier Mayz y Márquez (b. 1766 - d. 1833) de Valenzuela (to Apr 1812) - Fernando Rodríguez del Toro e (b. 1772 - d. 1822) Ibarra (from Apr 1812) - Juan Germán Roscio Nieves (b. 1763 - d. 1821) (from Apr 1812) - Francisco Javier de Ustáriz y (b. 1772 - d. 1814) Mijares de Solórzano - Francisco Silvestre Espejo (b. 1758 - d. 1814) Caamaño General-in-Chief of the Land and Sea Forces (also styled, Generalissimo of the Armed Forces) 19 May 1812 - 25 Jul 1812 Sebastián Francisco de Miranda y (b. 1750 - d. 1816) Rodríguez General-in-Chief of the Liberation Army 8 Aug 1813 - 14 Oct 1813 Simón José Antonio de la Santísima (b. 1783 - d. 1830) Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Liberator and Commander-in-Chief of the Army 14 Oct 1813 - 8 Sep 1814 Simón José Antonio de la Santísima (s.a.) Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Supreme Chief 6 May 1816 - 15 Feb 1819 Simón José Antonio de la Santísima (s.a.) Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios 9 May 1817 - 31 May 1817 Abortive attempt at restoring the United States of Venezuela and its Provisional Supreme Executive Power (in dissidence) - Francisco Javier Mayz y (s.a.) Márquez de Valenzuela - Juan Francisco Antonio (b. 1766 - d. 1822) Hilarión Zea y Díaz (alternate to Bolívar [s.a.], who did not accept office) -José Joaquín Cortés de (b. 1766 - d. 1826) Madariaga y Lecuna (alternate to del Toro [s.a.], who did not take office) Presidents 15 Feb 1819 Francisco Antonio Hilarión Zea y (s.a.) Díaz(acting) (president of the Sovereign Congress) 15 Feb 1819 - 17 Dec 1819 Simón José Antonio de la Santísima (s.a.) Mil Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (acting to 17 Feb 1819) 13 Jan 1830 - 20 Jan 1835 José Antonio Páez Herrera (b. 1790 - d. 1873) PC (1st time)(Chief of State to 27 May 1830, President of the State to 11 Apr 1831) 20 Jan 1835 - 9 Feb 1835 Andrés Narvarte Pimentel (1st time)(b. 1781 - d. 1853) PC (acting) 9 Feb 1835 - 8 Jul 1835 José María de los Dolores Vargas (b. 1786 - d. 1854) PC Ponce (1st time) 8 Jul 1835 - 13 Jul 1835 Pedro Briceño Méndez (provisional) (b. 1792 - d. 1835) PC 13 Jul 1835 - 28 Jul 1835 Santiago Mariño Carige (b. 1788 - d. 1854) PC (Superior Chief of State) 28 Jul 1835 - 20 Aug 1835 José María Carreño Blanco (b. 1792 - d. 1849) PC (1st time) (acting) 20 Aug 1835 - 24 Apr 1836 José María de los Dolores Vargas (s.a.) PC Ponce (2nd time) 24 Apr 1836 - 20 Jan 1837 Andrés Narvarte Pimentel (s.a.) PC (2nd time) (acting) 20 Jan 1837 - 11 Mar 1837 José María Carreño Blanco (s.a.) PC (2nd time) (acting) 11 Mar 1837 - 1 Feb 1839 Carlos Valentín José de la Soledad (b. 1789 - d. 1870) PC Antonio del Sacramento Soublette y Jerez de Aristeguieta (1st time) (acting) 1 Feb 1839 - 20 Jan 1843 José Antonio Páez Herrera (s.a.) PC (2nd time) 20 Jan 1843 - 28 Jan 1843 Santos Michelena y Rojas Queipo (b. 1797 - d. 1848) PC (acting) 28 Jan 1843 - 20 Jan 1847 Carlos Valentín José de la Soledad (s.a.) PC Antonio del Sacramento Soublette y Jerez de Aristeguieta (acting) (2nd time) 20 Jan 1847 - 1 Mar 1847 Diego Bautista García de Urbaneja (b. 1782 - d. 1856) PL y Sturdy (acting) 1 Mar 1847 - 20 Jan 1851 José Tadeo Monagas Burgos (b. 1784 - d. 1868) PC (1st time) 20 Jan 1851 - 5 Feb 1851 Antonio Leocadio Guzmán García (b. 1801 - d. 1884) PL (acting) 5 Feb 1851 - 20 Jan 1855 José Gregorio Monagas Burgos (b. 1795 - d. 1858) PL 20 Jan 1855 - 31 Jan 1855 Joaquín Herrera y Valdés (acting) (b. 1813 - d. 1884) PL 31 Jan 1855 - 15 Mar 1858 José Tadeo Monagas Burgos (s.a.) PL (2nd time) 15 Mar 1858 - 18 Mar 1858 Pedro José Ramón Gual Escandón (b. 1783 - d. 1862) Non-party (1st time)(President of Provisional Government) 18 Mar 1858 - 2 Aug 1859 Julián Castro Contreras (b. 1805 - d. 1875) PL (Supreme Chief of Liberating Army to 26 Jul 1858, Provisional Chief of State 26 Jul 1858 - 5 Jan 1859, then interim president) 1 Aug 1859 - 1859 Juan Crisóstomo Falcón y Zavarce (b. 1820 - d. 1870) PL (1st time)(Supreme Chief, in rebellion) 2 Aug 1859 - 29 Sep 1859 Pedro José Ramón Gual Escandón (s.a.) Non-party (2nd time) (acting) 29 Sep 1859 - 20 May 1861 Manuel Felipe de Tovar y de Tovar (b. 1803 - d. 1866) PC (acting; interim to 12 Apr 1860) 21 May 1861 - 10 Sep 1861 Pedro José Gual Escandón (3rd time)(s.a.) Non-party (acting) 10 Sep 1861 - 17 Jun 1863 José Antonio Páez Herrera (s.a.) PC (Supreme Chief) (3rd time) 17 Jun 1863 - 24 Jul 1863 Antonio Leocadio Guzmán Blanco (b. 1829 - d. 1899) PL (1st time) (acting) 24 Jul 1863 - 18 Mar 1865 Juan Crisóstomo Falcón y Zavarce (s.a.) PC (2nd time)(provisional [in rebellion from 22 May 1863]) 18 Mar 1865 - 7 Jun 1865 Antonio Leocadio Guzmán Blanco (s.a.) PL (2nd time) (acting) 7 Jun 1865 - 27 Jun 1868 Juan Crisóstomo Falcón y Zavarce (s.a.) PL (3rd time) 27 Jun 1868 - 28 Jun 1868 José Tadeo Monagas Burgos (s.a.) PL (3rd time)(General-in-Chiefof Armies of the Revolution)28 Jun 1868 - 8 Mar 1869 Guillermo Tell Villegas (1st time) (b. 1823 - d. 1907) PL (president of the National Executive; acting president from 22 Feb 1869) 8 Mar 1869 - 20 Mar 1870 José Ruperto Saturnino Monagas (b. 1831 - d. 1880) Mil Oriach (acting) 20 Mar 1870 - 11 Apr 1870 Juan Vicente González Delgado (b. 1825 - d. 1902) Non-party (acting) 11 Apr 1870 - 27 Apr 1870 Esteban de Palacios y Vegas (b. 1835 - d. 1876) Non-party (acting) 27 Apr 1870 - 20 Feb 1877 Antonio Leocadio Guzmán Blanco (s.a.) PL (3rd time)(General-in-Chief to 22 Jul 1870, provisional to 27 Apr 1873) 21 Feb 1877 - 2 Mar 1877 Jacinto Gutiérrez y Martínez de (b. 1808 - d. 1884) PL Alemán (1st time) (acting) 2 Mar 1877 - 30 Nov 1878 Francisco de Paula Linares (b. 1825 - d. 1878) PL Alcántara 30 Nov 1878 - 1 Jan 1879 Jacinto Gutiérrez y Martínez de (s.a.) PL Alemán (2nd time) (acting) 1 Jan 1879 - 13 Feb 1879 José Gregorio Valera Linares PL (acting) 13 Feb 1879 - 26 Feb 1879 José Gregorio Cedeño (b. 1830 - d. 1891) PL (Supreme Chief [in rebellion from 29 Dec 1878]) 26 Feb 1879 - 8 May 1879 Antonio Leocadio Guzmán Blanco (s.a.) PL (4th time)(Supreme Director) 8 May 1879 - 12 May 1879 José Rafael Pacheco Rodríguez (b. 1829 - d. 1884) PL (acting) 12 May 1879 - 27 Apr 1884 Antonio Leocadio Guzmán Blanco (s.a.) PL (5th time)(provisional to 17 Mar 1880) 27 Apr 1884 - 27 Apr 1886 Joaquín Sinforiano de Jesús Crespo (b. 1841 - d. 1898) PL Torres (1st time) 27 Apr 1886 - 15 Sep 1886 Manuel Antonio Díez y López de (b. 1838 - d. 1916) PL Umérez (acting)15 Sep 1886 - 5 Jul 1888 Antonio Leocadio Guzmán Blanco (s.a.) PL (6th time) 5 Jul 1888 - 19 Mar 1890 Juan Pablo Rojas Paúl (b. 1826 - d. 1905) PL 19 Mar 1890 - 17 Jun 1892 Raimundo Ignacio Andueza Palacio (b. 1846 - d. 1900) PC 17 Jun 1892 - 2 Sep 1892 Guillermo Tell Villegas (2nd time) (s.a.) PL (acting) 2 Sep 1892 - 6 Oct 1892 Guillermo Tell Villegas Pulido (b. 1854 - d. 1949) PL (acting) 7 Oct 1892 - 28 Feb 1894 Joaquín Sinforiano de Jesús Crespo (s.a.) PL Torres (2nd time) (acting Chief to 15 Jun 1893, then provisional) 28 Feb 1894 - 14 Mar 1894 Manuel Guzmán Álvarez (1st time) (b. 1830 - d. 1912) PL (acting) 14 Mar 1894 - 20 Feb 1898 Joaquín Sinforiano de Jesús Crespo (s.a.) PL Torres (3rd time) 20 Feb 1898 - 28 Feb 1898 Manuel Guzmán Álvarez (2nd time) (s.a.) PL (acting) 28 Feb 1898 - 20 Oct 1899 Ignacio Andrade Troconis (b. 1839 - d. 1925) PL 20 Oct 1899 - 23 Oct 1899 Víctor Rodríguez Párraga (acting) (b. 1836 - d. 1918) Mil 23 Oct 1899 - 13 Aug 1909 José Cipriano Castro Ruiz (b. 1858 - d. 1924) Mil (Supreme Chief of Restorative Liberal Revolution to 3 Nov 1899; then president of the National Executive Power 9 Mar - 1 Apr 1901; provisional president 1 Apr 1901 - 1 Mar 1902 and 5 May 1904 - 10 Jun 1905) 17 Feb 1909 - 19 Apr 1910 Juan Vicente Gómez Chacón (b. 1857 - d. 1935) Mil (1st time)(provisional; acting for suspended Castro to 11 Aug 1909) 19 Apr 1910 - 29 Apr 1910 Emilio Constantino Guerrero (b. 1866 - d. 1920) Non-party Guerrero (acting) 29 Apr 1910 - 3 Jun 1910 Jesús Ramón Ayala Anzola (acting) (b. c.1832 - d. 1920)Mil 3 Jun 1910 - 19 Apr 1914 Juan Vicente Gómez Chacón (s.a.) Mil (2nd time) 19 Apr 1914 - 24 Jun 1922 Victorino Márquez Bustillos (b. 1858 - d. 1941) Non-party (provisional) 24 Jun 1922 - 19 Apr 1929 Juan Vicente Gómez Chacón (s.a.) Mil (3rd time) 19 Apr 1929 - 13 Jun 1931 Juan Bautista Pérez de Velasco (b. 1869 - d. 1952) Non-party Pérez (acting to 31 May 1929) 13 Jun 1931 - 13 Jul 1931 Pedro Itriago Chacín (acting) (b. 1875 - d. 1936) Non-party 13 Jul 1931 - 17 Dec 1935 Juan Vicente Gómez Chacón (s.a.) Mil (4th time) 17 Dec 1935 - 18 Dec 1935 Cabinet ministers - Pedro Rafael Tinoco Smith (b. 1887 - d. 1966) - Pedro Itriago Chacín (s.a.) Mil -José Eleazar López Contreras (b. 1883 - d. 1973) Mil -Efraín González Cárdenas (b. 1880 - d. 1969) -Rafael Cayama Martínez (b. 1868 - d. 1944) Mil -Antonio Arecio Díaz González (b. 1892 - d. 1977) -Rafael González Rincones (b. 1885 - d. 1958) Non-party -Henrique Toledo Trujillo (b. 1885 - d. 1986)18 Dec 1935 - 19 Apr 1936 José Eleazar López Contreras (s.a.) Mil (1st time)(acting to 31 Dec 1935) 19 Apr 1936 - 29 Apr 1936 Arminio Borjas Pérez (acting) (b. 1868 - d. 1942) Non-party 29 Apr 1936 - 5 May 1941 José Eleazar López Contreras (s.a.) Mil (2nd time)(acting from 19 Apr 1941) 5 May 1941 - 19 Oct 1945 Isaías Medina Angarita (b. 1897 - d. 1953) PDV 19 Oct 1945 - 15 Feb 1948 Rómulo Ernesto Betancourt Bello (b. 1908 - d. 1981) AD (1st time)(chairman Revolutionary Government Junta) 15 Feb 1948 - 24 Nov 1948 Rómulo Ángel del Monte Carmelo (b. 1884 - d. 1969) AD Gallegos Freire 24 Nov 1948 - 2 Dec 1952 Military Government Junta - Carlos Román Delgado Chalbaud (b. 1909 - d. 1950) Mil Gómez (to 13 Nov 1950)(chairman) - Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez (b. 1914 - d. 2001) Mil - Luis Felipe Llovera Páez Secocín (b. 1913 - d. 1977) Mil - Germán Suárez Flamerich (b. 1907 - d. 1990) Non-party (from 27 Nov 1950)(chairman) 2 Dec 1952 - 23 Jan 1958 Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez (s.a.) Mil (provisional to 19 Apr 1953) 23 Jan 1958 - 14 Nov 1958 Wolfgang Enrique Larrazábal Ugueto (b. 1911 - d. 2003) Mil (chairman Government Junta) 14 Nov 1958 - 13 Feb 1959 Édgar Sanabria Arcia (b. 1911 - d. 1989) Non-party (chairman Government Junta) 13 Feb 1959 - 11 Mar 1964 Rómulo Ernesto Betancourt Bello (s.a.) AD (2nd time) 11 Mar 1964 - 11 Mar 1969 Raúl Leoni Otero (b. 1905 - d. 1972) AD 11 Mar 1969 - 12 Mar 1974 Rafael Caldera Rodríguez (1st time)(b. 1916 - d. 2009) COPEI 12 Mar 1974 - 12 Mar 1979 Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez (b. 1922 - d. 2010) AD (1st time) 12 Mar 1979 - 2 Feb 1984 Luis Antonio Herrera Campins (b. 1925 - d. 2007) COPEI 2 Feb 1984 - 2 Feb 1989 Jaime Ramón Lusinchi (b. 1924 - d. 2014) AD 2 Feb 1989 - 31 Aug 1993 Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez (s.a.) AD (2nd time)(suspended from 21 May 1993) 21 May 1993 - 5 Jun 1993 Octavio Lepage Barreto (b. 1923 - d. 2017) AD (acting for suspended Pérez) 5 Jun 1993 - 2 Feb 1994 Ramón José Velásquez Mujica (b. 1916 - d. 2014) Non-party (interim; acting for suspended Pérez to 31 Aug 1993) 2 Feb 1994 - 2 Feb 1999 Rafael Caldera Rodríguez (2nd time)(s.a.) CN 2 Feb 1999 - 12 Apr 2002 Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (1st time)(b. 1954 - d. 2013) MVR 11 Apr 2002 - 12 Apr 2002 EfraínVásquez Velasco (b. 1950) Mil (chairman of military commission, in rebellion) 12 Apr 2002 - 13 Apr 2002 Pedro Francisco Carmona Estanga (b. 1941) Non-party (president of transitional government on 12 Apr 2002) 13 Apr 2002 - 14 Apr 2002 Diosdado Cabello Rondón (acting) (b. 1963) MVR 14 Apr 2002 - 5 Mar 2013 Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (2nd time)(s.a.) MVR:2007 PSUV 10 Jun 2011 - 4 Jul 2011 Elias José Jaua Milano (1st time) (b. 1969) PSUV (acting for absent Chávez) 17 Jul 2011 -23 Jul 2011 Elias José Jaua Milano (2nd time) (s.a.) PSUV (acting for absent Chávez) 24 Feb 2012 - 17 Mar 2012 Elias José Jaua Milano (3rd time) (s.a.) PSUV (acting for absent Chávez) 10 Dec 2012 - 5 Mar 2013 Nicolás Maduro Moros (b. 1962) PSUV (acting forincapacitatedChávez) 5 Mar 2013 - Nicolás Maduro Moros (s.a.) PSUV (acting² to 19 Apr 2013) 23 Jan 2019 - 4 Jan 2023 Juan Gerardo Antonio Guaidó Márquez(b. 1983) VP (acting; in opposition, recognized by U.S. and others) 5 Jan 2023 - Dinorah Figuera (f) (b. 1961) PJ
(acting; in opposition, recognized by U.S. and others)

Executive Vice-Presidents 24 Jan 2000 - 28 Dec 2000 Julían Isaías Rodríguez Daíz (b. 1942) MVR 28 Dec 2000 - 13 Jan 2002 Adina Mercedes Bastidas Castillo(f)(b. 1943) MVR 13 Jan 2002 - 12 Apr 2002 Diosdado Cabello Rondón (1st time) (s.a.) MVR 14 Apr 2002 - 5 May 2002 Diosdado Cabello Rondón (2nd time) (s.a.) MVR 5 May 2002 - 8 Jan 2007 José Vicente Rangel Vale (b. 1929 - d. 2020) MVR 8 Jan 2007 - 6 Jan 2008 Jorge Rodríguez Gómez (b. 1965) MVR;2007 PSUV 6 Jan 2008 - 25 Jan 2010 Ramón Alonso Carrizales Rengifo (b. 1952) PSUV 26 Jan 2010 - 13 Oct 2012 Elias José Jaua Milano (s.a.) PSUV 13 Oct 2012 - 5 Mar 2013 Nicolás Maduro Moros (s.a.) PSUV 5 Mar 2013 - 8 Mar 2013 Vacant² 8 Mar 2013 - 6 Jan 2016 Jorge Alberto Arreaza Monserrat (b. 1973) PSUV 6 Jan 2016 - 4 Jan 2017 Aristóbulo Istúriz Almeida (b. 1946 - d. 2021) PSUV 4 Jan 2017 -14 Jun 2018 Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah (b. 1974) PSUV 14 Jun 2018 - Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez (f) (b. 1969) PSUV

¹The weekly rotating chairmanship was occasionally held by alternate members:Manuel Moreno de Mendoza y Salas (b. 1755 - d. 1841)(alternate to Mendoza), Mauricio Ayala Soriano (b. 1774 - d. 1813)(alternate to Escalona), and perhaps alsoAndrés de Narvarte y Pimentel (b. 1781 - d. 1853)(alternate to Padrón).

²Due to the ambiguous situation caused by the fact that Hugo Chávez (s.a.) was prevented by illness from taking the oath for his next presidential term, which he nevertheless was deemed to have begun on 10 Jan 2013, it is initially unclear whether the vice president, Nicolás Maduro Moros (s.a.) (as provided in the constitution for the regular case of the death of a sitting president), or the president of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello Rondón (s.a.) (as provided for in the case of an elected president dying before being sworn in), becomes acting president. The government adopts the first interpretation, and it is confirmed by the Supreme Court on 8 Mar 2013, which rules that Maduro became acting president immediately on the death of Chávez and then ceased to be vice president; later on 8 Mar he is sworn in as acting president.

Territorial Disputes: Claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana (asGuayana Esequiba orZona en Reclamación), preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; in 2018, Guyana initiated proceedings against Venezuela with the International Court of Justice (ICJ); Venezuela requested a direct dialogue to settle the dispute; the ICJ ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear the case in Dec 2020; in Dec 2023, the Venezuelan Government held a referendum on the disputed Essequibo region and announced measures to exert administrative control over the area; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; U.S., France, and The Netherlands recognize Venezuela's granting full effect toAves Island, thereby claiming a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's full effect claim, Dominica's claim dormant since 2006/2008.

Party abbreviations: AD= Acción Democrática (Democratic Action, social-democratic, center-left, est.1941);CD= Convergencia Nacional(National Convergence,christian democratic, center-right, split from COPEI, est.1993);COPEI = Comité de Organización Política Electoral Independiente/Partido Social Cristiano de Venezuela (Political Electoral Independent Organization Committee/Social Christian Party of Venezuela, christian-democratic, est.1946); PJ = Primero Justicia (Justice First Movement, progressive, social liberal, est.2000);PSUV= Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (United Socialist Party of Venezuela,authoritarian, socialist, Hugo Chávez personalist, Bolivarianismo,est.Oct 2007); VP = Voluntad Popular (Popular Will, center-left, social democratic, progressive, est.5 Dec 2009); Mil = Military; - Former parties: MVR= Movimiento Quinta República (Fifth Republic Movement, authoritarian, socialist, Hugo Chávez personalist, Bolivarianismo, 1997-18 Dec 2006,merged into PSUV);PC= Partido Conservador (Conservative Party, conservative, centralist, 1830-1908);PDV= Partido Democrático Venezolano (Venezuelan Democratic Party, progressive, I.M. Angarita personalist, to 1943 named Partidarios de las Políticas del Gobierno, 1941-1945); PL= Partido Liberal (Liberal Party, liberal, federalist, 1840-1908)

Aves Island

1584 Claimed for Spain by Avaro Sanzze (Isla de Aves), not settled; but island is later occupied by the English, Dutch and Portuguese. 13 Jun 1786 Spanish royal decree creating theAudienciaof Caracas attaches the Windward Islands, Aves included, to it.15 Jul 1854 U.S. Capt. Nathaniel P. Gibbs on brigJ.W. Dowtakes possession of the island for the U.S. Claim is disputed by Netherlands, U.K., and Venezuela. 13 Dec 1854 Venezuela evicts Dutch and American traders from the island. Apr/May 1856 Three Boston men, "Mesers. Shelton, Samson and Tappan" in a dispute with the Venezuelan government, after they claim to annex the island under the U.S. Guano Islands Act.14 Jan 1859 By Convention the U.S. settles its claims in favor of Venezuela in exchange for an indemnity.30 Jun 1865 Arbitration by Queen Isabella II of Spain awards sovereignty over Isla de Aves toVenezuela. 1878 - 1912 Island is again occupied by American guano miners until supplies are exhausted. 4 Jul 1895 Isla de Aves is included by decree in Venezuela's territorial re-organization by President Joaquín Crespo.1905 Isla de Aves included in a municipality called "Municipio Oriental" as part of Colón Federal Territory.23 Aug 1972 Made a nature preserve by Venezuela (Refugio de Fauna Silvestre - Isla de Aves). 28 Mar 1978 Venezuela agrees on its maritime borders with the U.S. between Aves and U.S. Virgin Islands(ratified 24 Nov 1980). 30 Mar 1978 Netherlands - Venezuela agreement gives full effect to Aves which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea. 2 Jun 1978 Venezuelan Navy establishesSimón Bolívar Scientific Naval Base on the island. 17 Jun 1980 Venezuela agrees with France on the maritime border between Isla de Aves and Guadeloupe and Martinique. 4 Aug 1980 Hurricane Allen splits the island in two, but subsequent coral reef growth eventually reunites the two halves.