In 1819, Gen. Simón Bolívar leads a ragtag army under harsh conditions. Flashbacks reveal his wedding day and his privileged boyhood alongside slaves.

Simón gets an unconventional tutor, who proves to be a kindred spirit. Carlos uses slave Matea as a bargaining chip to get ownership of family property.

Simón is sent to live in Rodríguez's home, where his mind is opened to new ideas. Yearning for freedom, Dionisio plans to escape from the hacienda.

After losing his students and attracting suspicion, Rodríguez realizes he must flee. The other members of the cause attempt their heist of the garrison.

Joaquín learns what his fate will be. While learning about his family's cacao production business, Simón makes a strategic bet on a card game.

Simón begins his training at the military academy and meets his instructors, while the rest of his family realize their limits without a Spanish title.

Juan Vicente declares his love for Josefa. The marquess advises Simón on what he must do to secure María Teresa's hand in marriage.

Between María Antonia's and Matea's childbirths, only one ends well. Simón catches Lorenzo de Ulloa in a lie, and unexpectedly meets the queen of Spain.

Simón reveals his intentions toward María Teresa to her father. When Lorenzo damages the Marquess's reputation, Simón challenges him to a sword fight.

Simón decides to follow María Teresa to La Sierra. But when Delfina tells lies to get him arrested for hurting Lorenzo, he must first evade the police.

Despite Bernardo's misgivings, Simón and María Teresa are married a year later, and set off for Venezuela. On the ship, they meet Caracas's new judge.

After arriving in Venezuela, Simón discovers the disastrous mismanagement of the haciendas, forcing him and his sister to ask the new judge for a loan.

While rescuing Matea from the violent slaveowner she was sold to, María Teresa contracts a tropical fever. María Antonia finds herself falling in love.

Simón begs Dr. O'Neil to cure María Teresa. Determined to visit his wife in Caracas, Pablo Clemente hops on a horse-and-wagon and takes off.

Simón travels to Madrid, and then on to Paris, where he runs into his old tutor, Rodríguez. Carlos learns of María Antonia and Felipe's romance.

Simón's political views begin to rub his Parisian friends the wrong way, and Rodríguez gives him some frank advice. María Antonia becomes pregnant.

María Antonia is forced to say a difficult goodbye. Manuelita is allowed to leave the convent. Simón realizes what his true calling is and returns home.

Simón asks Gen. Miranda to lead an army. María Antonia must decide whether run off with Felipe. Manuelita is sent to live with her uncle, a priest.

Simón forms the Patriotic Society to show the junta the public's demand for independence. Manuelita finds out the stories of those she saw executed.

After the victory in Valencia, Simón and Gen. Miranda disagree over what their next move should be. Bad news arrives from overseas. Dionisio returns.

His assets seized by the Spanish, Simón arrives penniless in Cartagena and joins the New Granada Army. A royalist soldier tries to seduce Manuelita.

Determined to return to Venezuela and face Gen. Monteverde, Simón leads his army on a bloody journey back to Caracas. A husband is found for Manuelita.

Simón sends Dionisio and Sgt. Luciano D'Elhuyar to Monteverde's camp to propose a prisoner exchange. Manuelita is reunited with painter Rafael.

When a Cartegena colonel refuses to give him weapons, Simón resigns and goes to Jamaica. Manuelita devises a plan to free a prominent prisoner of war.

Gen. Morillo learns Simón is in Jamaica and puts a price on his head. Manuelita receives an unexpected visit from Fausto, the royalist who seduced her.