| Conflict: | First Battle of Angostura |
| Partof: | the Venezuelan War of Independence |
| Date: | 18 January 1817 |
| Place: | Angostura, now Ciudad Bolívar |
| Coordinates: | 8.138°N -63.548°W |
| Result: | Royalist victory |
| Combatant1: | Third Republic of Venezuela |
| Combatant2: | Spanish Empire |
| Commander1: | Manuel Piar Manuel Cedeño |
| Commander2: | Lorenzo Fitzgerald Guarnición |
| Strength1: | ~2,000 soldiers |
| Strength2: | ~3,200 soldiers |
The First Battle of Angostura took place during the Venezuelan War of Independence. The battle saw Patriot forces attempt to capture the city of Angostura, but retreat after being unable to penetrate Spanish defenses.
A previous attempt in the Venezuelan War of Independence to capture Angostura happened in 1812, when revolutionary González Moreno and 400 soldiers attempted to negotiate with the local authorities. Negotiations broke down and fighting ensued, which failed to yield any gains for the rebels.
Manuel Piar had gathered many Patriot revolutionaries to fight two battles: one to fight for the purpose of cutting communication, and the other to capture Angostura.[1]
Arriving at Angostura on 18 January 1817, Manuel Piar's force, 2,000 strong, were unable to defeat the entrenched Royalist forces, which numbered at about 3,200.[2] He turned the command over to Manuel Cedeño and left along with the rest of the army on 24 January.
After the initial defeat, many officers left Piar to join Simón Bolívar who would take Angostura in the Second Battle of Angostura.[3]