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Atanasio Girardot | |
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 Posthumous portrait of Girardot by José María Espinosa circa 1848. | |
| Birth name | Manuel Atanasio Girardot Díaz |
| Born | May 2, 1791 San Jerónimo, Antioquia Province, Viceroyalty of New Granada |
| Died | September 30, 1813 Bárbula Hil, Bárbula, Naguanagua, Venezuela |
| Allegiance | Spain (until 1810) United Provinces of New Granada |
| Service | Spanish Army Army of the Union |
| Years of service | 1805-1813 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Auxiliary Infantry Battalion of Santafé |
| Battles / wars | Colombian war of Independence Venezuelan War of Independence |
Manuel Atanasio Girardot Díaz (2 May 1791 – 30 September 1813) was a Neogranadine military officer and one of the heroes of the Colombian and Venezuelan wars of Independence. He is famous for having died during the Battle of Bárbula, trying to plant the republican flag on Bárbula Hill.
The son of Louis Girardot, wealthy merchant and French miner, Girardot fought in the first battle of the Colombian War of Independence, at the Battle of Bajo Palacé on March, 28 1811 and fought with the distinction earning his promotion to captain.
Girardot later took part in the New Granada civil war of 1812 when he switched sides from being in the centralist army to the federalist army.
In 1813 he was assigned to Brigadier Simón Bolívar's army that took part in the Campaña Admirable , participating with distinction in many of the battles. At the Battle of Bárbula, he led the assault on the Spanish positions on the hill which as was successful however when he , tried to plant the republican flag on Bárbula Hill he received gunshot to his heart killing him instantly.