An aristocrat by birth, Bolívar lost his parents when he was a child and inherited a fortune. He received an excellent education by his tutors, and became familiar with the works of the Enlightenment, as well as those from ancient Rome and Greece. He travelled Europe and it is in Rome, Italy that he proclaimed to never rest until America was free. After many battles, Spain's presence in South America was eliminated in 1823. Bolívar wanted South american unity, but with personal rivalries among generals of the revolution, civil wars exploded and Bolívar's dream ended. His name was rehabilitated 10 years after his death as it became useful to construct a sense of nationhood, and it is still in use today.