A Chronicle from Jovellanos: 129 Years After the Fall of the Bronze Titan.
Antonio Maceo did not die on December 7th, 1896. He lives on in every corner of this land that saw him ride, in every gesture of dignity, in every act of justice. From Jovellanos, his memory continues to be a guiding light.
In the lands of Jovellanos, the echoes of freedom-fighting machetes, galloping horses, and voices that refuse to be silenced still resonate. This December 7th, from this corner of Matanzas, we reverently remember the death in combat of Antonio Maceo, the Bronze Titan, whose indomitable spirit crossed these lands on his march toward liberty.
It was 1895 when the invading column, led by Maceo and General Máximo Gómez, traversed the Cuban landscape with an audacity that defied the Spanish empire. On their westward journey, Jovellanos witnessed the mettle of those men who knew no rest. Here, among sugarcane fields and dusty roads, part of the epic was forged.
It was near the Coliseo that Maceo fought one of the most significant battles of the invasion: the Battle of Coliseo, considered by many to be the turning point that solidified the western campaign. The Titan’s strategy, bravery, and determination prevailed, leaving an indelible mark on the memory of the people who witnessed it.
In the town of Diana, very near Jovellanos, the column camped and fought, leaving behind not only the memory of their passage, but also the seed of freedom. There, a commemorative plaque celebrates the centennial of that historic moment, and a ceiba tree—number 75 of the one hundred planted in honor of the invasion—stands as a living symbol of resistance and hope.
Today, on the anniversary of his death at Punta Brava, the people of Jovellanos do not forget. Schools commemorate his legacy, veterans evoke him with pride, and young people, under the shade of the ceiba tree, learn that history is not only the past, but a flame that guides the future.
Antonio Maceo did not die on December 7th, 1896. He lives in every corner of this land that saw him ride, in every gesture of dignity, in every act of justice. From Jovellanos, his memory continues to be a guiding light.
Written by Yannier Díaz.
