"Capriles carries Liberator Simón Bolívar's blood"

It was not by chance. Nonetheless, the finding by Arturo Herrera Vaillant of the origin of opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski came indeed unexpectedly. A business advisor, with studies of law and international politics, Herrera Vaillant has devoted himself to genealogy, resulting in valuable contributions to the Venezuelan history. His latest finding, though, shows multiple nuances.

How did you establish a blood relationship between Liberator Simón Bolívar and Henrique Capriles Radonski?

It was as a result of a research undertaken to determine the candidate's Venezuelan origin. I used to do it with such persons.

Had you a preconceived idea about how the investigation would be aimed?

Not at all. I did not know what I would find. However, at some point in time I noted a link of the Bolívar (of Maracaibo, the capital city of western Zulia state) with the Dubucs, which, in turn, associate the Capriles through the Garcías. Then, I remembered the important finding of Dr. Kurt Nagel Von Jess (the director of Zulia Historical Heritage), at Maracaibo Cathedral, which is the origin of this finding. I refer to the marriage of an illegitimate brother of the Liberator (Juan Agustín Bolívar) to a lady whose surname was Chacín.

Therefore, the clue as to such finding is the Dubuc family.

Absolutely, because two Dubuc brothers arrived in Venezuela from France to be at the service of the Independence. One of them, José, married to a grand-daughter of Juan Agustín and here was where I thought about a link.

Was the Capriles family aware of such link?

No, as far as I am concerned.

Was it a surprise for them?

I don't know actually.

Who was and where does such Bolívar illegitimate brother come from?

About Juan Agustín Bolívar, the review Historia and Dr. Juan Carlos Morales Manzur, the former director of Zulia Historical Heritage, supply valuable information. In principle, nobody knows who the mother of this child of Juan Vicente Bolívar y Ponte was; he was born more than 30 years earlier than Liberator. As a matter of fact, I doubt that they had ever met. It is also known that his father bequeathed him 100 pesos and he came to Caracas from the city of Maracaibo, where he lived, to claim the legacy. It proves as well, with witnesses, his relationship, as he unsuccessfully tried to get something else. In this way, after Nagel found the marriage certificate of Juan Agustín Bolívar and Ana María Chacín, Morales Manzur elaborated on Bolívar's descent.

A descent for generations settled down in Maracaibo.

In Maracaibo, but also in Betijoque (Andean Trujillo state). I also found that Ramona Bolívar (married to Dubuc) was not the sister, but the daughter of Carolina Bolívar, who was in turn born to Bolívar and Ana María Chacín, a link that was unclear.

It was not the first time that you delved into the Bolívars' genealogy.

Last year I published "El Nido Desecho" (Messed-up Nest). This book is a compendium of the genealogy of the Liberator and his siblings. Now, with this new finding, a missing component has been completed.

In that book, it is established that Leopoldo López is also a descendant of the Bolívar family.

He is a descendant of Juana Bolívar. His family always knew it. However, they do not refer to Bolívar, nor does Capriles, because they respect him and I am certain that they would not use him for political reasons. Besides, they do not need it, as they carry it in their blood.

Is the affirmation of the Capriles' descent fully substantiated?

Fully: marriages, baptisms and deaths produce the evidence. It is legal evidence that establishes the relationship. The evidence can be proved.

What could be the political implications of this finding at this election time?

I just know for sure that neither of these two gentlemen (Capriles and López) is to mess about with the finding.

When did you make the finding?

The finding about Henrique Capriles one month ago, yet genealogy is something assembled little by little, as long as information is found and research is conducted. There was a previous work. Therefore, what I did to complete the task was to review the parish registers at Betijoque. And then the surname Dubuc emerged and that cast light on me. Later, the investigation led me to Casigua, Falcón state, where Elvira Rosa Jugo Dubuc, married to Julio García, was christened.

When did the Capriles show up?

The Capriles came later. They come from Coro and Curacao. They are the descendants of patron of arts Mordecai Ricardo, a close friend of the Liberator.  Mordecal Ricardo gave him funds for the expedition of Los Cayos from Haiti.

Translated by Conchita Delgado