Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual
President of Venezuela Interim
In office 25 April 1868 – 28 June 1868
Preceded by	Juan Crisóstomo Falcón
Succeeded by	Guillermo Tell Villegas
Personal details
Born	1830 Santa Marta,Gran Colombia
Died	15 August 1868(1868-08-15) (aged 37–38) Curaçao
Party	Liberal Party
Spouse	Ramona España

Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual (1830 inSanta Marta, Colombia – 15 August 1868 inCuraçao), was a military leader committed to liberal ideas. He was also in charge of the War and Navy Ministry in 1864, and in 1868 was designated provisionalpresident of Venezuela.

Bruzual participated actively in theFederal War, being known as theCourageous soldier of Federation, fought inPurereche, Santa Ines, Buchivacoa,Barquisimeto andPortuguesa. Later, once the Federalist movement took government, PresidentJuan Crisóstomo Falcón designated him as War and Navy minister (1864), resigning to the position after being imprisoned for the charges of conspiring.

In 1866, was named Head of the General Staff of the Army. On 6 April 1868, inGüigüe, had an interview with Miguel Antonio Rojas, Head of the Army of theRevolución Azul (Blue Revolution), and agreed the suspension of the hostilities by the lapse of 15 days, in order to discuss a treaty of peace, which was signed on 11 May. On 25 April 1868, was in charge of the Presidency of Venezuela. Later, on 19 June, had an interview withJosé Tadeo Monagas, leader of theRevolución Azul, but did not obtain an agreement, and the Government was overthrown.

Bruzual departed toPuerto Cabello, and thence is proclaimed in exercise of the presidency, he enlists troops, but was defeated byJosé Ruperto Monagas, on 14 August 1868.Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual died inCuraçao, 15 August 1868 of wounds suffered in battle.

In 1872, his remains were repatriated by order of PresidentAntonio Guzmán Blanco, being commissioned by his relative Blas Bruzual.

Amunicipality inAnzoátegui state was named after him, along with a town in Apure (Bruzual) and another in Portuguesa (Villa Bruzual).

• Fundación Polar. "Bruzual, Manuel Ezequiel", Diccionario de Historia de Venezuela. Caracas: Fundacíon Polar, 1997.ISBN 980-6397-37-1

• Presidents of Venezuela
• Venezuelan soldiers
• 1830 births
• 1868 deaths
• Great Liberal Party of Venezuela politicians
• People from Santa Marta
• Venezuelan people of Spanish descent

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from January 2024