<P> With loyalists displaying the same passion and violence, the rebels achieved only short - lived victories . The army led by the loyalist José Tomás Boves demonstrated the key military role that the Llaneros came to play in the region's struggle . Turning the tide against independence, these highly mobile, ferocious fighters made up a formidable military force that pushed Bolívar out of his home country once more . In 1814, heavily reinforced Spanish forces in Venezuela lost a series of battles to Bolívar's forces but then decisively defeated Bolivar at La Puerta on June 15, took Caracas on July 16, and again defeated his army at Aragua on August 18, at a cost of 2,000 Spanish casualties out of 10,000 soldiers as well as most of the 3,000 in the rebel army . Bolívar and other leaders then returned to New Granada . Later that year the largest expeditionary force ever sent by Spain to America arrived under the command of Pablo Morillo . This force effectively replaced the improvised llanero units, who were disbanded by Morillo . </P> <P> Bolívar and other republican leaders returned to Venezuela in December 1816, leading a largely unsuccessful insurrection against Spain from 1816 to 1818 from bases in the Llanos and Ciudad Bolívar in the Orinoco River area . </P> <P> In 1819 Bolívar successfully invaded New Granada, and returned to Venezuela in April 1821, leading a large army of 7,000 . At Carabobo on June 24, his forces decisively defeated Spanish and colonial forces, winning Venezuelan independence, although hostilities continued . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding to it . (June 2008) </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Where did the first successful rebellion against colonial government in latin america occur