Castro, Cipriano (1858–1924)

Venezuelan military leader and dictator 1899–1908, known as ‘the Lion of the Andes’. When he refused to pay off foreign debts in 1902, British, German, and Italian ships blockaded the country, leaving the nation almost bankrupt. He presided over a corrupt government and is renowned for being one of the most corrupt leaders in South American history. There were frequent rebellions during his rule, and opponents of his regime were exiled or murdered.