Francisco de Paula Santander, who comes from…

Francisco de Paula Santander, who comes from one of those peripheral upper-class families, has since Bolivar's return aligned himself with the opposition and helped block pro=government initiatives at Ocana.

Once the dictatorship was established, he had been given the option of diplomatic exile as minister to the United States, and he accepted, but before he could depart, some of his supporters had attempted to assassinate Bolivar.

The plot had failed, and Santander, although not directly involved, was tried and condemned to death but instead was sent into nondiplomatic exile.

In the aftermath, the dictatorship hardens, but opposition increases, especially when it becomes known that Bolivar's ministers are sounding out opinion at home and abroad on the possibility of recruiting a European prince to become king whenever Bolivar dies or retires.

Bolivar is not a party to the scheme, having gone south from Bogota in December 1828 to deal with a local uprising and brief conflict with Peru.

Yet he is blamed, and the monarchist intrigue causes the greatest backlash of protest in his native Venezuela, where a new revolt begins before the end of 1829.

This time Venezuela goes all the way to secession.