President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has died at the age of 58. He was a firebrand, befriending the foes of the U.S. while pursuing his stated goal of "uniting" South America in the footsteps of Simon Bolivar.

Using his country's vast petroleum wealth, Chavez made both friends and enemies around the world. He could sway a crowd with his larger-than-life presence and bold statements.

An enigma at times, Chavez was both a Roman Catholic and the leader of the United Socialist Party. Often at the center of attention in international politics, he was once asked "why don't you shut up?" by the popular and normally reserved King Juan Carlos of Spain.

In recent years, Chavez has tried to preserve an image of strength even as his health suffered from a bout with cancer. Traveling to Cuba for cancer treatment, he returned to Venezuela to recover only to take a turn for the worse.

Chavez died Tuesday after being admitted to a hospital for respiratory complications. He had been President of Venezuela for over a decade.