Field Marshal Antonio José de Sucre is portrayed as an intimate friend of the General . The historical Antonio José de Sucre , the Field Marshal of Ayacucho , had been the most trusted general of Simón Bolívar . García Márquez describe him as " intelligent , methodical , shy , and superstitious " . The Field Marshal is married to and have a daughter with Doña Mariana Carcelén . In the first chapter of the novel , the General ask Sucre to succeed him as President of the Republic , but he reject the idea . One of the reasons Sucre give is that he wish only to live his life for his family . Also at the beginning of the novel , Sucre 's death is foreshadowed . Sucre tell the General that he plan on celebrating the Feast of Saint Anthony in Quito with his family . When the General hear that Sucre have been assassinated in Berruecos on his way back to Quito , he vomit blood .