Llaneros

(from Spanish llano, “steppe”, “plains”), Indians of the plains of South America. They work as shepherds, guarding herds of cattle and horses. The llaneros are magnificent horsemen and marksmen. During the war of independence of the Spanish-American colonies (1810-26), the llaneros originally sided with the Spaniards, but after S. Bolivar issued a decree allotting land to soldiers of the liberation armies in 1817, they went over to the side of the patriots. The llaneros’ cavalry was greatly feared by the Spaniards.