[1] His father Luis Caicedo y Flórez was a caudillo from Tolima, where his family owned many estates, including the haciendas Saldaña and Santa Bárbara de Contreras.

He traveled to Spain, where he joined the army to fight against Napoleon, and he also worked as a secretary in the Spanish Cortes (Congress).

His life was spared thanks to the influence of his father-in-law, his wife Juana Jurado y Bertendona, and some monetary payments to the Spanish authorities.

[3] Once again, after the revolutionary triumph of August 7, 1819, Caycedo returned to public life under the protection of Simón Bolívar.

Afterward, Caycedo was appointed as president of the “Consejo de Estado” (the precursor of the Supreme Court) to replace the retiring José María Castillo y Rada, who decided to become a member of Congress of the Gran Colombia.

Because Mosquera was very ill and frail, Caycedo assumed the executive power as acting president on August 2, 1830.

Months later, supported by the regrouped constitutional army, Caycedo proclaimed he was the legitimate president on April 11, 1831.

They both reached an agreement and signed the Accord of Apalo, by which General Urdaneta recognized Caycedo as acting president.