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The Llanero: Cattle Herder of the Llanos and Soldier of Independence

On the grasslands of the Orinoco, herders working the cattle that arrived in the 16th century became the cavalry of an independence movement.

Who are the llaneros?

A llanero is a Venezuelan or Colombian herder of the Llanos, the grasslands of eastern Colombia and western-central Venezuela. According to the Wikipedia entry on the llanero, the group descends from a mix of Arawak peoples, Andalusians, Canarians and, to a lesser extent, enslaved Africans.

The figure emerged in the 17th century and declined by the end of the 19th century, as Andean political dominance and the Venezuelan oil industry reshaped the country. Their image has been romanticized, and they are a Venezuelan national hero and symbol.

Cattle on the Llanos

The first herd arrived in the 16th century, brought by Cristobal Rodriguez, who founded San Luis de la Union. By the middle of the 17th century, the major haciendas held about 137,800 cattle. In the late 18th century, the region exported about 30,000 mules a year to the Antilles.

Colonial law initially reserved horse riding for peninsular Spaniards, but economic growth pushed reforms that gradually opened it to other groups. Today the llano holds about 12 million cattle, the llanero article reports.

Work on the plains

Llaneros were skilled riders who handled livestock and ranch work, and the roles included cabrestero, the herd leader, and baquiano, the guide. Cattle drives crossed great distances and rivers, facing dangers such as alligators, piranhas and eels.

The way of life is tied to music and food. The harp, maracas and cuatro accompany the joropo, which is the national dance of Venezuela, and the diet centers on beef, rice and arepas. Coleo competitions, similar to rodeo events, showcase llanero skills today.

Llaneros in the wars of independence

Llanero lancers and cavalry fought in both the royalist and republican armies and supplied most of the cavalry. Jose Tomas Boves recruited many llaneros for the royalists, largely in reaction to republican repression, while Jose Antonio Paez led llanero forces for the republicans.

At Las Queseras del Medio, the Wikipedia entry says, 153 Paez lancers defeated about 1,200 Spanish riders. Llaneros were also important at Boyaca, Junin, Ayacucho and Carabobo.

Jose Antonio Paez: from ranch hand to president

Paez was born on 13 June 1790 in Curpa, in today's Portuguesa State, to a poor family of Canary Islander descent, according to the Biografias y Vidas entry. He worked as a hand at La Calzada, a hacienda owned by Manuel Pulido, where he learned horsemanship, cattle work and lassoing.

Between 1816 and 1818 he became supreme leader of the llanero armies, relying on cavalry with lances, flanking attacks and feigned retreats, and recruiting soldiers by offering land. He met Bolivar at Canafistola in January 1818, helped win Las Queseras del Medio on 2 April 1819 and Carabobo on 24 June 1821, and became Venezuela's first president, serving 1831 to 1835.

What Made It Work

The llanero tradition worked because the plains, the herds and the horse formed one system. Skills learned moving cattle across flooded grassland carried straight into cavalry service.

There were costs. The same llaneros fought on both sides of the independence wars, driven in part by the repression that led Boves's recruits to join the royalists, and the post-independence period brought conflict among rival caudillos.

  • Herders learned horsemanship and cattle work from childhood, as Paez did at La Calzada.
  • Specialized roles such as cabrestero and baquiano organized long drives across rivers and open country.
  • Lancers used flanking attacks and feigned retreats suited to open plains.
  • Land offers helped Paez recruit soldiers, tying ranch country to political loyalty.
  • Music, food and coleo competitions kept the culture alive after the ranching economy changed.

The llanero today

The llano holds about 12 million cattle today, and the llanero remains a Venezuelan national symbol. Traditional houses are made of bahareque with casupo leaf roofs, and the food centers on beef, rice, arepas and capybara.

For more on how herding traditions compare around the world, see farm.FM ranching and a farm.FM story about llanero cattle country.

Timeline

  1. 1500sFirst cattle reach the Llanos with Cristobal Rodriguez
  2. Mid-1600sThe major haciendas hold about 137,800 cattle
  3. 1790Jose Antonio Paez is born at Curpa
  4. 1816-1818Paez becomes supreme leader of the llanero armies
  5. 1819Las Queseras del Medio, April 2
  6. 1821Battle of Carabobo, June 24
  7. 1831-1835Paez serves as Venezuela's first president

Frequently asked questions

What is a llanero?

A llanero is a cattle herder of the Llanos, the grasslands of Venezuela and eastern Colombia. The tradition emerged in the 17th century and the llanero is a Venezuelan national symbol.

Who was Jose Antonio Paez?

Paez, born in 1790, was a llanero ranch hand who rose to lead the llanero armies in the independence wars and became Venezuela's first president, serving from 1831 to 1835.

What role did llaneros play in the independence wars?

Llanero lancers supplied most of the cavalry on both royalist and republican sides and were important at Boyaca, Junin, Ayacucho and Carabobo.

Sources and further reading

Profiles are compiled from public sources and reviewed against them. See our editorial policy to suggest a correction.

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