Timeline of the Spanish American wars of independence

This is a timeline of events related to the Spanish American wars of independence. Numerous wars against Spanish rule in Spanish America took place during the early 19th century, from 1808 until 1829, directly related to the Napoleonic French invasion of Spain. The conflict started with short-lived governing juntas established in Chuquisaca and Quito opposing the composition of the Supreme Central Junta of Seville. When the Central Junta fell to the French, numerous new Juntas appeared all across the Americas, eventually resulting in a chain of newly independent countries stretching from Argentina and Chile in the south, to Mexico in the north. After the death of the king Ferdinand VII, in 1833, only Cuba and Puerto Rico remained under Spanish rule, until the Spanish–American War in 1898.

These conflicts can be characterized both as civil wars and wars of national liberation, since the majority of the combatants were Spanish Americans on both sides, and the goal of the conflict for one side was the independence of the Spanish colonies in the Americas. In addition, the wars were related to the more general Latin American wars of independence, which include the conflicts in Haiti and Brazil (Brazil's independence shared a common starting point with Spanish America's, since both were triggered by Napoleon's invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, when the Portuguese royal family resettled in Brazil).

The war in Europe, and the resulting absolutist restoration ultimately convinced the Spanish Americans of the need to establish independence from the mother country, so various revolutions broke out in Spanish America. Moreover, the process of Latin American independence took place in the general political and intellectual climate that emerged from the Age of Enlightenment and that influenced all of the so-called Atlantic Revolutions, including the earlier revolutions in the United States and France. Nevertheless, the wars in, and the independence of, Spanish America were the result of unique developments within the Spanish Monarchy.

Notes:

• Events indicated in this format are currently celebrated as national holidays by the various Hispanic American republics in the present-day.

Early 1700s

Events in the Viceroyalty of New Granada

• The Viceroyalty of New Granada is established out of territories from the Viceroyalty of Perú. This is done in order to encourage further economic development of the territories of New Granada, Quito and Venezuela. This is done as part of the Bourbon Reforms enacted by the Spanish Monarchy. Its first acting viceroy, Antonio Ignacio de la Pedrosa y Guerrero, takes office on June 13, 1718.

1760s

Events in the Viceroyalty of New Granada

• The Quito Revolt of 1765, or Rebellion of the Barrios (Rebellion of the Neighbourhoods), takes place. A series of revolts begin in the city of Quito, part of the Real Audiencia of Quito, within the Viceroyalty of New Granada, after new taxes on alcoholic beverages are imposed by the Spanish Crown. (May 22, 1765)
• A coalition of upper-class Criollo and middle and lower-class Mestizo inhabitants of the barrios (neighbourhoods) of Quito overthrow the Spanish viceregal authorities in the context of the Quito Revolt of 1765. They establish and independent government for the Province of Quito and even propose proclaiming the Count of Selva Florida, Manuel Guerrero Ponce de León, as king of Quito, but he refuses. (June 27, 1765)
• After a series of political differences among the members of the independent government of Quito, established during the Quito Revolt of 1765, viceregal troops arrive from the city of Guayaquil and re-establish the viceregal authorities of the Real Audiencia of Quito. The short-lived autonomy of Quito ends, but the viceroy of New Granada, Pedro Messía de la Cerda, accepts the demands to abolish the new taxes on alcoholic beverages. (September 1, 1766)

1770s

Events in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata

• The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata is established out of territories from the Viceroyalty of Perú. This is done in order to encourage further economic development of the territories of Buenos Aires, Paraguay, Banda Oriental and Upper Peru. This is done as part of the Bourbon Reforms enacted by the Spanish Monarchy. Its first viceroy, Pedro Antonio de Cevallos, takes office on October 15, 1777.

1780s

Events in British West Florida

• Siege of Pensacola, part of the Gulf Coast Campaign of the American Revolutionary War. Spanish colonial and metropolitan forces, with the help of French troops, fight against the British and their German allies from the County of Waldeck, to capture the city of Pensacola. Bernardo de Gálvez, governor of Louisiana, commands the Spanish troops that defeat the British and capture West Florida. Francisco de Miranda, founding father of Venezuela, was part of the Spanish colonial troops that fought in the battle. Moreover, the Spanish Crown would impose more taxes upon its American territories in order to finance the Siege of Pensacola and other campaigns and wars, as part of the Bourbon Reforms. (March 9 – May 8, 1781)

Events in the Viceroyalty of New Granada

• The Revolt of the Comuneros begins in the city of Socorro. In order to finance wars elsewhere in the New World, such as the American Revolutionary War, and the defense of key colonial ports from British attacks, the Spanish Crown imposes new taxes and restrictions on the production of tobacco and aguardiente. On March 16, 1781, Manuela Beltrán tears down the royal edict announcing the new taxes issued by the King. This causes various Criollo and Mestizo colonists to initiate a series of revolts against the viceregal authorities, known as the Revolt of the Comuneros. They march under the slogan "Long live the King, down with bad governance!". (March 16, 1781)

1806

Events in the United States of America

• Francisco de Miranda visits Washington, D.C. and holds a private meeting with President Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of State James Madison, in order to encourage the United States to support an invasion of Venezuela to make it independent of the Spanish Empire. The Neutrality Act of 1794 prevents the United States to support Miranda on that occasion. However, he gathers various volunteers, among them David G. Burnet, future president of the Republic of Texas, to conduct a military operation to liberate Venezuela. He sets sail on a ship called Leander on February 2, 1806.

1808

Events in the Kingdom of Spain

• The Mutiny of Aranjuez takes place in this city. King Charles IV of Spain is forced to abdicate in favour of the Prince of Asturias, his son. Ferdinand VII becomes king of Spain. (March 17–19)
• The Abdications of Bayonne take place. Napoleon forces the former king Charles IV and king Ferdinand VII to abdicate in favour of him. In theory, Napoleon became the new king of Spain. (May 7)
• Napoleon names his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, as king of Spain. The Kingdom of Spain becomes a satellite state of the French Empire under Napoleon. (June 6)

Events in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata

• The Government Junta of Montevideo is established after the news of Napoleon's invasion of Spain reach the Banda Oriental. The Junta is peacefully disbanded by Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros, the new viceroy of the Río de la Plata. (September 21)

1809

Events in the Viceroyalty of New Granada

• Independence Day of Ecuador (Quito Revolution (1809-1812): On August 10, 1809, an autonomist Governing Junta for the Kingdom of Quito is declared in the city of Quito. (August 10, 1809)
• British forces led by Sir Arthur Wellesley join the Peninsular War, supporting the Spanish resistance.

1810

Events in the Viceroyalty of New Granada

• Independence Day of Colombia: On July 20, 1810, an autonomist Central Governing Junta for the New Kingdom of Granada is declared and established in the city of Santafé de Bogotá. (July 20, 1810)

Events in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata

• First National Government of Argentina: On May 25, 1810, an autonomist Provisional Governing Junta for the Provinces of the Río de la Plata is declared and established in the city of Buenos Aires. (May 25, 1810)

Events in the Viceroyalty of New Spain

• Independence Day of México: On September 16, 1810, Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gives a speech that would motivate the people of the town of Dolores to take up arms against the Spanish Monarchy. This event is known as the Cry of Dolores. (September 16, 1810)

Events in the Viceroyalty of Perú

• Independence Day of Chile: On September 18, 1810, an autonomist Government Junta for the Kingdom of Chile is declared and established in the city of Santiago de Chile. (September 18, 1810)
• Spain is dominated by French forces and the Supreme Central and Governing Junta is defeated

1811

• Hidalgo is defeated in Mexico

1812

• Spain enacts a Constitution. First Spanish expeditionaries arrive to Americas on January to support the Royalists.
• The First Republic is created in Venezuela

1813

• Simón Bolívar gathers an army to free Venezuela. He signs the Decree of War to the Death and triumphantly enters Caracas
• Mexico abolishes slavery privileges and indigenous tribute, and later declares independence

1814

• Ferdinand VII returns to Spain. Absolutism is restored; the 1812 Constitution is repealed and the Cortes dissolved.
• Venezuela creates the short-lived Second Republic; Bolívar is defeated and moves to New Granada
• Bolívar conquers Bogotá
• Mexico enacts a Constitution

1815

• A Spanish Army of overseas sails from Cadiz led by Pablo Morillo, in order to retake the former colonies in South America.
• Simón Bolívar moves to Jamaica

1816

Events in Río de la Plata, Paraguay, and Upper Peru (former Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata)

• Independence Day of Argentina: On July 9, 1816, the Congress of Tucumán gathered representatives from the provinces of the former Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and passed the Declaration of Independence of the United Provinces of South America, which would later be known as the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. From this moment, Argentina would break all political ties with the Kingdom of Spain. (July 9, 1816)

1817

• José de San Martín leads the Crossing of the Andes, defeats the Chilean royalists at the Battle of Chacabuco, and triumphantly enters Santiago, Chile

1818

• Simón Bolívar organizes a third Venezuelan republic in Angostura and calls for a congress. Bolivar's campaign to take Caracas is defeated, and he returns to the line of Orinoco river.
• The patriotic triumph at the Battle of Maipú guarantees the independence of Chile

1819

• Bolívar defeats the royalists at the Battle of Boyacá. New Granada is liberated
• The Congress of Angostura creates Gran Colombia; Bolívar is elected its president.

1820

Events in Río de la Plata, Paraguay, Cisplatina, and Upper Peru (former Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata)

• Manuel Belgrano, creator of the flag of Argentina, dies in the city of Buenos Aires. Date currently commemorated in Argentina as the National Flag Day. (June 20, 1820).

1821

Events in Colombia (former Viceroyalty of New Granada)

• The triumph of Bolívar at Carabobo guarantees the independence of Venezuela

Events in Río de la Plata, Paraguay, Cisplatina, and Upper Peru (former Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata)

• General Martín Miguel de Güemes, who participated in the independence of Argentina, dies in the town of Chamical, Salta, Río de la Plata. Date currently commemorated in Argentina as the Anniversary of the Passing of General Martín Miguel de Güemes. (June 17, 1821)
• Brazil annexes the Banda Oriental to their territories

Events in Mexico (former Viceroyalty of New Spain)

• The Spanish Captain-General in Mexico City recognizes Mexico's independence but the royal government in Madrid does not. Mexico forms a constitutional monarchy.

1822

• The United States recognizes the independence of the former Spanish colonies
• Bolívar and San Martin meet at Guayaquil
• San Martin resigns from power in Peru and leaves Lima
• Antonio José de Sucre defeats the royalists at the Battle of Pichincha
• Ecuador joins Gran Colombia
• Agustín de Iturbide is proclaimed Emperor of Mexico, under the name Agustín I

1823

• End of siege of Puerto Cabello Fostress (Venezuela)
• A liberal riot in Mexico forces Iturbide to abdicate
• The Federal Republic of Central America is created

1824

• Mexico is declared a federal republic and enacts a Constitution
• The Battle of Ayacucho ends the Spanish presence in Peru
• The government of Ramón Freire in Chile, led by Jorge Beauchef, fails to capture Chiloé Archipelago from the Spanish

1825

• End of siege of San Juan de Ulúa Fostress (Mexico)
• Royalist Pedro Antonio Olañeta dies in the Battle of Tumusla (Bolivia).

1826

• End of siege and surrender of Real Felipe Fortress (Perú)
• Capitulation of Spanish Chiloé Province

1827

• Jose Arizabalo, with support of Captaincy General of Puerto Rico, starts the last royalist guerrilla in Venezuela, defeated in 1829.

1828

• Mexican Navy under the command of David Porter is defeated in the Caribbean.

1829

• The last attempt of Ferdinand VII of Spain to reconquer Spanish America. Isidro Barradas was defeated in the battle of Tampico (Mexico).

1830

• On May, Venezuela and then Ecuador separate themselves from the Gran Colombia, causing its final breaking the next year.
• July Revolution returns the liberalism to France. Ferdinand VII lost the French military support to maintain the absolutism in Spain.
• Marshal Antonio José de Sucre is assassinated and liberator Simón Bolívar dies from disease at the end of the year.

1833

• King Ferdinand VII dies.

1836

Main article: Treaties to recognise the Spanish American independence

• Spain renounces its domains in continental Americas and authorizes the government to conclude treaties with all the states of Spanish America.

1850

Events in France

• José de San Martín, main leader of the independence of Argentina, Chile, and Perú, dies in the city of Buenos Aires. Date currently commemorated in Argentina as General José de San Martín Memorial Day. (August 17, 1850)

See also

• Spanish colonization of the Americas
• Spanish American wars of independence

Bibliography

• Higgins, James (2014). The Emancipation of Peru: British Eyewitness Accounts. Online at https://sites.google.com/site/jhemanperu
• Luna, Félix (2003). La independencia argentina y americana (in Spanish). Buenos Aires: Planeta. ISBN 950-49-1110-2.