From liberation weapon to Petro symbol: the history of Bolívar's sword

Simón Bolívar's sword, a potent symbol of South American independence, has been returned to the Casa Museo Quinta de Bolívar in Bogotá, marking one of outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro's final official acts. The sword, which resided at the presidential palace for the past four years, was wielded by Bolívar during crucial campaigns that liberated countries including Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador from Spanish rule. Its historical significance spans from the initial cry for independence in 1810 to the final consolidation of independence in Bolivia in 1825. The sword's journey includes a dramatic chapter in 1974 when Álvaro Fayad, a leader of the M-19 guerrilla group, stole it from the museum. This act was a symbolic statement by the M-19, a group with which President Petro was affiliated in his youth, aimed at reclaiming Bolívar's legacy and denouncing alleged state betrayal. For 17 years, the sword remained in the hands of various M-19 leaders and political figures before its return to the government in January 1991. This handover occurred as part of peace agreements signed with then-President Virgilio Barco. The official ceremony took place at the Casa Museo Quinta de Bolívar, where demobilized commander Antonio Navarro Wolf presented the relic to President César Gaviria, who subsequently ordered its transfer to the Bank of the Republic. It remained there until 2020, when it was moved to the Casa de Nariño. The sword played a prominent role during Petro's presidency, notably on his inauguration day in August 2022, when his first presidential order was to have it brought to the Plaza de Bolívar. It reappeared on May 1, 2025, when Petro held it during a rally in the Plaza de Bolívar to advocate for his stalled labor reform, calling for a popular consultation. The sword's return now coincides with the anniversary of Simón Bolívar's birth on July 24, 1783.