User:SpiceMan/San Martin

José Francisco de San Martín
	José de San Martín
Born	25 February 1778 ; Yapeyú, Argentina
Died	17 August 1850 ; Boulogne-sur-Mer, France

I'd be glad if someone created the following articles (I'll be adding more):

Battle of San Lorenzo (actually any missing article regarding battles)
Any missing article regarding people (stubs very welcomed!)
Maitland Plan (reference es:Plan de Maitland)
Crossing of the Andes (good reference here: [1])
Battle of Cancha Rayada
A graphic comparing the Crossing of the Andes with Napoleon's Crossing of the Alps (Comparision in Clarin)
A decent image of the painting of the Battle of San Lorenzo that depicts San Martín being helped by Sargent Cabral.

José Francisco de San Martín Matorras, commonly known as José de San Martín (25 February, 1778 – 17 August, 1850) was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain. Born on February 25, 1778 in Yapeyú, he left at early age his mother country and studied in Madrid, Spain where he met and befriended chilean Bernardo O'Higgins. On 1789, after joining the Spanish forces to fight against the French, and participating in several battles such as the Battle of Bailén and Battle of Albuera, San Martín started taking contact with South American independentists.

On 1812, he set sail to Buenos Aires from England, and offered his services to the United Provinces of the South (roughly present Argentina). After the Battle of San Lorenzo in 1813, and some time in command of the Army of the North during 1814, he started his plan to attack Lima, by first liberating Chile in order to attack it by sea by creating and Army in Cuyo for this purpouse. In 1817, –in a feat comparable to Crossing of the Alps by Hannibal and Napoleon– he crossed the Andes from Mendoza to Chile, and prevailed over the Spanish forces after the Battle of Chacabuco and Battle of Maipú (1818), liberating Chile together with chilean Bernardo O'Higgins. San Martín seized control of the viceroyalty's capitol –Lima– in July 12, 1821, declared Peru's independence, and was appointed Protector of Perú. After a closed-door meeting in Guayaquil with fellow libertador Simón Bolivar at Guayaquil in July 22, 1822, San Martín unexpectedly left Perú and resigned the command of his army, excluding himself from politics and military, and taking exile to France in 1824. The meeting events was to be a largely discussed subject by latter historians.

Together with Simón Bolívar in the north, San Martín is regarded as one of the Liberators of Spanish South America. He is a national hero of Argentina.

Birth

Son of Spanish Juan de San Martín and Gregoria Matorras, he was born the last and fifth child in February 25, 1778 in Yapeyú –a small village in Corrientes, Argentina–. His father was a colonel in office as lieutenant governor of Yapeyú since 1774. In 1781, the family moved to Buenos Aires.

Spain

In 1784, his father was transferred, this time to Spain, thus the family moved to Spain, and San Martín enrolled in Madrid's Real Seminario de Nobles where he studied from 1785. While on the Real Seminario de Nobles he met and became friends with chilean Bernardo O'Higgins.

In 1789 –at the age of 11– San Martín left the Real Seminario de Nobles an enrolled in the regiment of Murcia, starting his military career.

Military Career in Europe

See also: Peninsular War

Since San Martín joined the regiment of Murcia, he participated on several campaigns in Africa, fighting in Melilla and Oran, among other places. Later, by the end of the First Coalition of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1797, his rank was raised to Sub-Lieutenant for his actions against the French in the Pyrenees. On August of the same year, after several engagements, his regiment surrendered to British naval forces. Soon afterwards, he continued to battle in southern Spain, mainly in Cádiz and Gibraltar with the rank of second Captain of light infantry.

When the Peninsular War started on 1808, San Martin was assigned ayudante (Spanish, helper) of the First Regiment Voluntarios de Campo Mayor. After his actions against the French, he became Captain of the Regiment of Borbon. On July 19, 1808, Spanish and French forces engage in the Battle of Bailén, on which Spanish forces prevailed, allowing the Army of Andalucia to attack and seize Madrid. For his actions during this battle, San Martín was condecorated with a gold medal, and his rank lifted to Lieutenant Colonel.

While in Spain, San Martín becomes acquaintanced with several criollos, and becomes aware of the independentists movements in America. Years later, on September 11, 1848, in a letter to Ramón Castilla he would write that in 1811, "In a meeting of Americans in Cadiz, knowing of the first movements of Caracas, Buenos Aires and elsewhere we resolved to return each of our country of birth, in order to offer our services to the struggle we considered was bound to intensify".

On May 16, 1811 he participated on the Battle of Albuera under the command of Lord William Beresford. During the battles he met Scottish Lord MacDuff (James Duff, the Fourth Earl of Fife) who introduced him to the lodges that were plotting the southamerican independence efforts. San Martin asks and his resign is accepted in the Spanish Army.

England

With the help of Lord MacDuff, San Martín obtained a passport to England where he met several criollos who were part of the Logia de los Caballeros Racionales (Lodge of the Rational Knights) founded by the venezuelan Francisco de Miranda. According to Argentine historian Felipe Pigna, San Martín was introduced to the Maitland Plan by members of the lodge founded by Miranda and Lord MacDuff.

On 1812, San Martín set sail to Buenos Aires in the British frigate George Canning.

South America

Argentina

Following his arrival to Buenos Aires on March 9, 1812, his rank of Lieutenant Colonel was recognized by the Triumvirate and he was thus entrusted the creation of the Regiment of Mounted Granadiers (Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo), which would become the best-trained military arm of revolution.

During 1812 he focused on training troops by following the modern warfare techniques he had acquired during the Peninsular War. He also entablished in Latin America the Logia Lautaro, an offspring in Buenos Aires of the lodges in London and Cádiz, with Carlos María de Alvear and José Matias Zapiola. On August of the same year he married María de los Remedios de Escalada, a young woman from one of the local wealthy families.

In October, when the news about the victory of the Army of the North (Spanish, Ejército del Norte) commanded by Manuel Belgrano reached Buenos Aires, the Lautaro Lodge initiated political pressure, backed by San Martín armed forces and popular demand to impose it's candidates into government, and thus forcing the First Triumvirate to an end and initiating the Second Triumvirate with members Juan José Paso, Nicolás Rodríguez Peña, and Antonio Álvarez Jonte (Rodríguez Peña and Álvarez Jonte were members of the lodge). This new government strenghtened the position held by the Army, and decided to siege Montevideo, which was controlled by loyalist to the Spanish Crown. In December 7, 1812, San Martín was promoted to Colonel.

Beginning of his military carreer in South America

See also: Battle of San Lorenzo

Although not technically a battle (in Spanish the battle is referred as Combate de San Lorenzo – Combat of San Lorenzo), references in English language refer to the event as Battle of San Lorenzo.

On January 28, 1813, San Martín with his Mounted Granadiers (comprising around 150 soldiers) was sent to protect the Paraná river shore from the Spanish Fleet of 11 ships under command of General José Zavala. On the morning of February 3, the Spanish forces of around 250 men disembarked and fought against San Martín on the Battle of San Lorenzo.

During the fight, San Martín's horse was shot dead and fell, making him an easy target because one of his legs was stuck below the horse and Sergeant Juan Bautista Cabral, who was attacked while releasing him, died after the battle. After the battle San Martín was promoted to General. This was San Martín's first military action in South America.

Army of the North

After the victories of the Army of the North in the Battles of Tucuman and Salta, the Army commanded by Belgrano lost terrain after defeats in the Battles of Vilcapugio and Ayohuma on October 1 and November 14, 1813. The Triumvirate then decided to send San Martín to the North with a small infantry army and his cavarly regiment.

After joining the defeated Army of the North in Yatasto he takes command of the Army on January of 1814, Belgrano taking the place of second in command. During his command, the Army camped in Tucumán, where he started instructing the troops, created a new military school, and sent Colonel Martín Guemes to fight against loyalist coming from Peru to gain time. However, after minor struggles in Salta and Jujuy, news of the victory of Commander Guillermo Brown against the loyalist's navy, and the resulting blockade of Montevideo, made the loyalist forces from Peru to retreat to concentrate its forces. On April, 1814, San Martín is granted a license to treat an illness and moved to Córdoba.

During his command of the Army of the North, San Martín confirmed one of the reasons behind the Maitland Plan's scheme: royalist forces that came down from the Upper Peru (roughly present day Bolivia) were easily defeated by the independentist forces in the valleys of Salta and Jujuy because of geographical advantage while on the other hand, forces attacking Upper Peru were easily defeated by the royalist for the very same reasons.

Governor of Cuyo

In Córdoba, San Martín continued preparing for his plan of attacking Lima –the Capital city of the Viceroyalty of Peru– through Chile and, taking that in consideration, requested to be appointed governor of Cuyo. Later, Juan Pueyrredón was sent by the provisional government of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, and gave San Martín full support on his Liberatory Campaign (Spanish, Campaña Libertadora).

Once in office, while San Martín was focused on the Crossing of the Andes (Spanish, Cruce de los Andes) preparations, he also performed his duties as Governor. During his term, he made tax collection stricter, farm workers were reglamented, ordered a massive vacunation against small pox, and reorganized the mail service to strenghten its security and avoid mail to end up in hands of Chile, founded a library, including other measures. Meanwhile, he tried to exhort other provinces to declare independence. Particularly, Governor of Tucumán Tomás Godoy Cruz was sent letters regularly in this regard.

One month after he took office, royalist forces defeated rebel forces under O'Higgings' command (who fled to the Andes). San Martin strenghtened his espionage with the so-called Guerra de zapa (Spanish, War of Zapa. A pun on the expression Trabajo de zapa which means hidden work done slyly towards some particular aim). It mainly consisted of espionage efforts while developing militar strategies.

On this behalf, San Martin sent his Aide-de-camp and amateur cartographer Álvarez Condaco carring an Act of Independence to Chile as an excuse through Los Patos pass (the longest path), and returned through the Uspallata (the shortest one), to perform reconnaissance of several locations, mainly the Chacabuco area. Other measures included a disinformation campaign in Chile by sending fake information on the possible crossing paths, and information gathering of the situation in Chile in order to prevent a possible attack from there.

Army of the Andes

During his governorship of Cuyo, he organized the Army of Cuyo. On November 8, 1814 he created the 11th Battalion of Infantry (Spanish, Batallón Número 11 de Infantería) which included the Auxiliary Corps of Chile (Spanish, Cuerpo de Auxiliares de Chile, which was under command of General Gregorio de Las Heras. These chilean corps were remnants of the Army that had fled from Chile after the Battle of Rancagua. By October, 1815 after several efforts and contributions of several provinces, the army had 1,600 infantry soldiers, 1,000 men in cavalry, 200 men in artillary and disposed of 10 cannons. However, many problems arised, some logistic problems such as supply problems of powder, iron, and uniforms. Because the already present industries were not enough to supply the Army of the North, San Martín handled it creating local industries on Cuyo to meet the requirements of the Army he was creating.

On the other hand, despite having the support of the Supreme Director of the United Provinces of Río de la Plata, the support was far from being at national level. His efforts were often mined by the skepticism of some local leaders about the viability of the campaign against the Viceroyalty of Peru through the Andes. However, on August 1, 1816, Pueyrredón renamed the Army to Army of the Andes (Spanish, Ejército de los Andes) and San Martín was appointed General in chief, and gave the Army national priority.

By the end of the preparations, under the command of San Martín, the Army of the Andes had 3 generals, 28 chiefs, 207 officials, 15 civil employees, 3,778 soldiers, and 1,392 auxiliar forces, totalling 5,423 men, 18 pieces of artillery, 1,500 horses and 9,280 mules.

Crossing of the Andes

On September, 1816, San Martín relocated his Army of the Andes to Plumerillo, in the northern part of Mendoza, where he finished the details to start his Crossing of the Andes. The army was divided in two main columns and four minor ones, keeping the decided paths in secret.

On January 18, 1817, a main column parted with the artillery to Chile through Uspallata, under command of General Las Heras, reaching Las Cuevas on February 1, 1817. The second main column led by San Martín, left on January 19 through Los Patos pass, and reached San Andrés de Tártaro on February 8, where he was later joined by Las Heras, concluding the first part of the crossing. By the time the main columns reunited, both had already had minor skirmished: the first column fought royalist in Potrerillos, while the forces led by San Martín fought in the Battles of Achupallas and Las Coimas.

The 21 days that lasted the Crossing of the Andes, were an extremely difficult enterprise, with temperatures ranging from 30 celcius degrees during day to -10 celcius degrees at night, altitudes averaging 3000 meters above the sea level and paths that were far from being a road apt for an army: they consisted of a 50cms wide path mainly used by locals for travelling on mule with several passages which had to be crossed literally in line. Above all those hardships, San Martín was far from healthy and was carried on a stretcher during most of the trip. By the end of crossing, around 300 men –5.5% of the total initial men– had lost their lives, mostly due to the harsh conditions of the trip.

Campaign in Chile

After crossing the Andes and entering Chile, the Spanish royalist forces were taking positions in Mount Cuesta Vieja, preparing themselves for the confrontation against the Army of the Andes.

Battle of Chacabuco

See also: Battle of Chacabuco

By February 10, 1817, the Army of the Andes was in the Aconcagua valley, and the Spanish royalist forces had not still taken full positions. San Martín then took the initiative and hastened preparations. Despite a severe attack of Rheumatoid arthritis, San Martín commanded the battle, and seeing the Spanish forces under numerical inferiority and considering the surprise factor, developed a strategy for the Spanish forces to surrender, avoiding bloodshed. On February 12, 1817 at 2am, the forces commanded by San Martín started ascending Mount Cuesta Vieja, divided in two main divisions. Facing south, the division on the left was under General Miguel Estanislao Soler and the one to the right under O'Higgins' command. Initially the strategy consisted on the right division under Soler's command to take position on the rear of the loyalist, while the forces under O'Higgins would face the vanguard. Meanwhile, squads of the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers were scouting the area.

At around 10pm, the Grenadiers took by surprize the vanguard of the royalist forces –Spanish General Rafael Maroto was specting 2 more days to take positions, and to recieve more troops–, and charged against the fleeing infantry. This secured an important strategic position on the plan, where O'Higgins' division was placed. O'Higgins then requested permision to pursue the fleeing royalist vanguard in order to avoid their reorganization, to what San Martín agred but recommended not taking action until Soler's division was in place. Despite this, the forces led by O'Higgins went down, only to find an arroyo, leaving them in a bad position and in range of enemy fireguns. At this point O'Higgins division started retreating. Seeing the delicate position of the O'Higgins' troops, San Martín sent a message to Soler, ordering him to hurry up and charge. According to historian Bartolomé Mitre, maybe because of his bad relationship with Soler, and not wanting him to take credit of the victory, O'Higgins order to charge yelling "Soldiers! To live with honor or die in glory! Follow me the brave one. Columns, charge!". The battle was even, until Soler's division joined the battle turning the odds in favor of the patriot side.

After the battle, the royalist forces had suffered 500 casualties, and 600 royalist soldiers were prisoners. On the Army of the Andes side, there were 12 killed and around 100 wounded. The army also gained new artillery and weapons, besides restoring the chilean revolution.

The message sent by San Martín regarding the results of the battle stated: "The Army of the Andes reaches glory when stating: In twenty four days we have done the campaign, passed through the highest mountain range of the globe, finished with the tyrants y gave freedom to Chile".

Statue of José de San Martín in Santiago de Chile

Chacabuco aftermath

On February 14, San Martín and O'Higgins triumphally entered Santiago, and on February 18, in a meeting held in the town open hall San Martín was appointed Governor of Chile. San Martín immediately resigned, thus O'Higgins was elected Supreme Director of the State of Chile (Spanish, Director Supremo del Estado de Chile). The United Army (Spanish, Ejército Unido) was created with Chilean and Argentine soldiers. The Chilean soldiers under O'Higgins command, while San Martín was General in chief of the whole United Army.

San Martín then, in order to raise funds for a Fleet, left to Buenos Aires. After negotiating with Pueyrredón, a delegation was sent to London to provide ships for a new fleet in the Pacific Ocean. Back in Chile in the last days of 1817, San Martín sends a delegation to Lima under the pretext of proposing to the Viceroy Joaquín de la Pezuela of Peru the regularization of the war and exchange of POWs. The purpouse was to gain as much information as possible about the enemy's plans. The delegation brought the news that an army under General Mariano Osorio where about to set sail in four frigates to southern Chile.

Despite the success in the Battle of Chacabuco, the royalist forces still had strong presence, although replegated to southern Chile, and leaving Santiago and the northern Chile under patriot control. The men under Osorio's command joined the royalist forces in the south through sea, whom also had allied themselves with mapuche native americans.

Battle of Cancha Rayada

On March 19, 1818, the royalist forces concentrated and fortified in Talca with around 5,000 men under General Osorio, while the independent forces of around 7,000 men formed by the United Army were taking positions in the Cancha Rayada plains. San Martín, fearing an attack by the side, ordered a change of disposition of the troops.

Knowing their disvantage in number and cavalry, the Spanish General Mariano Osorio was not eager to engage in battle, fortifying in Talca. However, after a suggestion from Colonel José Ordóñez a confrontation was decided, under Ordoñez' command. Ordoñez –in a bold move– made the kind of attack San Martín had feared: circumventing the city, made a surprise attack at night behind the vanguard were the patriot forces were still taking positions. The surprise attack happened before the patriot army had re-positioned them self, and was a direct attack to the battalion under O'Higgins command, and near San Martín's position. Soon, the vanguard soldiers dispersed leaving O'Higgins in such a bad position his horse was shot dead and he was wounded in one arm. In a move unlike him, San Martín instead of ordering retreat held the position which made more patriot soldiers flee under enemy fire, leaving weapons and supplies behind. After the initial disorder, however, ordered retreat. The rear and reserves had already re-positioned, somewhat withstanding the attack, but it had no one in command: Colonel Hilarión de la Quintana had left to headquarters to receive orders after the re-position and had not yet returned. Las Heras took command, and led the men during the retreat, while trying to recover as much artillery and weapons as possible and being joined by disbanded soldiers. San Martín and O'Higgins –who were also retreating at full speed– were being closely chased by royalist forces, while several patriot soldiers disbanded and fled.

By March 21, 1818, the decimated patriot forces of around 3,500 men reunited in San Fernando, while news were reached Santiago. Rumors of deaths of O'Higgins and San Martín were spreading, and an exodus from Santiago to Mendoza started. About the results of the battle, San Martín sent the following message: "Camping the army under my command in the outskirts of Talca, it was attacked by the enemy, and suffered an almost generalized disband which forced me to retreat. I'm reuniting the troops right now, with happy results, as I'm already counting with 4,000 men from Curicó to Palequén".

The battle –which was the first and only defeat the campaign has suffered– resulted in around 150 killed, around 200 men made prisoners. Several hundred had disbanded, the whole artillery of the argentine side lost, along with considerable amounts of horses, mules and weapons from both chilean and argentine parts of the army. Despite the royalist victory, the action proved decimating: 200 soldiers had been killed, 300 men captured and around 600 had deserted or disbanded, which summed up more than a half of the 2,000 men that had charged in the battle.

Battle of Maipú

See also: Battle of Maipú

After the sorpresa de Cancha Rayada (surprise of Cancha Rayada), the royalist forces concentrated and marched towards Santiago. On April 4, 1818, the United Army took positions in Loma Blanca, near the Maipú plains. San Martín separated in three divisions: Las Heras commanding the column on the right, Colonel Rudecindo Alvarado commanding the column on the left, and Quintana on the rear. O'Higgins –still wounded– was in charge of the reserves. The royalist forces under General Osorio's command, took defensive positions despite some Colonels –among which was Ordoñez– were convinced taking the offensive as in Cancha Rayada was the best option. According to Irish Mounted Granadier John Thomond O'Brien, San Martín –seeing Osorio's disposition of the forces– exclaimed "Osorio is clumsier than I thought, today's triumph is ours: the sun as witness!".

On the morning of April 5, 1818, around 11am the patriotic forces charged against the royalist forces with devastating resolution: after the sustained six-hour battle, the royalists were defeated, and Osorio attempted to retreat to a propery called "Lo Espejos" (Th' Mirrors) but failing to, fled to Talcahuano with around 1200 men, although virtually rendered useless as they had lost most, if not all, of their weapons.

The royalist forces suffered 2000 dead, 3000 prisoners and lost all it's weapons and artillery. The patriotic forces, on the other hand, suffered 1000 casualties. Historian and Colonel José Luis Picciuolo stated in his book Argentina Cavalry in the history of the army that "this battle was executed as a typical act of anihillation".

As result of the battle, the Spanish control over northern Chile ended, finally the independece declared on February 12, 1818 was partially accomplished. Viceroy Pezuela considered northern Chile lost, and Osorio set sail to Peru, leaving Colonel Juan Francisco Sánchez in charge of 1000 men in Talcahuano.

Fleet of the Pacific

Since the Battle of Chacabuco, San Martín was urging both governments of Santiago and Buenos Aires to build a fleet on the Pacific. Convoys had been sent to the United States and England in order to buy and hire several ships, however, lack of political cohesion in nowadays Argentina, a Spanish blockade in Valparaiso, and the Battles of Cancha Rayada and Maipú heavily delayed the project. On the other hand, the large dependence of the colonial Chilean economy on maritime routes over land routes (caused by the mountainous landscape of the region), proved an advantage both in ship-yards and naval capable population availability.

Right after the Battle of Maipú, San Martín left to Buenos Aires in order to speed up the process (and meet his wife and daughter which he had not met since the start of the Campaing of the Andes). Once in Buenos Aires, after learning the fact that 500,000 pesos could not be available for the project from Pueyrredón, San Martín resigned as Commander of the Army under the pretext of being prescripted by his doctor to take rest in Chile's hotsprings. The resign was not accepted and San Martín was granted a license.

Act of Rancagua

After Supreme Director José Rondeau was defeated in the Battle of Cepeda, San Martín sent his resignation to the Army's command from Santiago to Rancagua, where Colonel Las Heras had settled with the army, arguing that the authority to which had to respond had ceased to exist, and thus his own authority expired. The officials of the army rejected his resignation on the basis that the army's goal was to hasten the happiness of the country and the authority was given ultimately by the health of the people, something that was immutable and could not expire.

Peru

On August 20, 1820 a fleet of eight warships and sixteen transport ships, under Thomas Cochrane command, sets sail from Valparaíso to Paracas, southern Peru.

On September 7, the army lands on Paracas and succesfully attacks Pisco. On September 11, 1820, San Martín sends a "manifesto" to the peruvian people stating "My announcement is not that of a conqueror that tries to sistemize a new enslaving. I cannot help but be an accidental instrument of justice and agent of destiny. The outcome of victory will make Peru's capital to see for the first time their sons united, freely choosing their government and emerging into the face of earth among the rank of nations".

Expedition of Peru

While previous campaings had been militaristic, San Martín avoided confrontation in Peru and emphazised on diplomacy. His strategy consisted of waiting for the peruvian people to begin the uprising by themselves. This yielded in many diplomatic envoys to Lima, urging viceroy Joaquín de la Pezuela to grant the independence of Peru. However these diplomatic efforts led to no consense with realists.

After seizing Pisco, the army sets sail on October 26 towards north and lands at Huacho -a better place from a stratic point of view- on November 12. Huacho was used by San Martín as his main headquarters from thereon. While there, San Martín first hears of the emancipation of Guayaquil under the leadership of peruvian Gregorio Escobedo. This and other events such as the maritime blockade of Callao by Cochrane and the victories over realist by Alvarez de Arenales in Guacarillo (October 6) and Pasco (December 20) strenghtened the position of the main independentist effort led by San Martín.

On January 29, is Pezuela is deposed by José de la Serna. On February 12, 1821 San Martín promulgates the Provisional Rules (spanish, Reglamento Provisional) aimed to provide legal guarantees to the peruvian citizens, and designed the first flag of Peru. Soon afterwards he starts preparing to march towards Lima.

On March, 1821 the army sets sail and lands on Ancón -near Lima-, while dispatching general Guillermo Miller to the southern coasts and Alvarez de Arenales towards the eastern hills, furthering Lima's isolation. After settling north of Lima, diplomatic efforts started once again to not avail as viceroy de la Serna does not accept to declare independence, and San Martín doesn't accept de la Serna's proposal of acceptance by the independentists of the Spanish Constitution of 1812 and sending emmisaries to the Cortes Generales.

On July 2, San Martín meets viceroy de la Serna. This time San Martín proposes to create a constitutional monarchy with an european monarch to be appointed later. De la Serna arguing that he didn't have the power to make such decision asked for two days to discuss the issue. However after discussing the issue with the royalist forces' commanders, the proposition was turned down on the basis is not having the power to grant independence, even it it was a meant to be a monarchy.

Protector of Peru

San Martín occupied Lima, the capital of Peru, on 12 July 1821. This was a huge loss for the Spanish forces. Independence from Spain for Peru was finally declared on 28 July 1821 and he was voted the "Protector" of the newly independent nation. During the same year, he founded the National Library of Peru, to which he donated his collection of books, and praised the new library as "... one of the most efficient means to spread our intellectual values". After Peru's parliament had been assembled, he resigned his command.

Meeting in Guayaquil

On 26 July 1822 he met with Simón Bolívar at Guayaquil to plan the future of Latin America. Most of the details of this meeting were secret at the time, and this has made the event a matter of much debate among later historians. Some believe that Bolívar's refusal to share command of the combined forces made San Martín withdraw from Perú and resettle as a farmer in Mendoza, Argentina. Another theory claims that San Martín yielded to Bolívar's energy and avoided a confrontation.

Exile in Europe

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In 1824, after the death of his wife, Remedios de Escalada, he moved to France with his daughter Mercedes, where he spent the remainder of his days retired at Boulogne-sur-Mer.

His last act on Argentine soil was accepting a gift from Buenos Aires governor Juan Manuel de Rosas and refusing to fight in the civil wars that tore the country apart.

In 1880 his remains were taken to Buenos Aires and reinterred in the Buenos Aires Cathedral.

San Martin and the aborigins

San Martin and religion

San Martin's health

Anthem to San Martín

Anthem to the Liberator General San Martín

Yergue el Ande su cumbre más alta, Dé la mar el metal de su voz, y entre cielos y nieves eternas se alce el trono del Libertador.

Suenen claras trompetas de gloria y levanten un himno triunfal, que la luz de la historia agiganta la figura del Gran Capitán.

¡Padre augusto del pueblo argentino, héroe magno de la libertad! A su sombra la Patria se agranda en virtud, en trabajo y en paz.

¡San Martín! ¡San Martín! Que tu nombre, honra y prez de los pueblos del Sur, asegure por siempre los rumbos de la Patria que alumbra tu luz.

De las tierras del Plata a Mendoza, de Santiago a la Lima gentil, fue sembrando en la ruta laureles a su paso triunfal San Martín.

San Martín, el señor en la guerra, por secreto designio de Dios, grande fue cuando el sol lo alumbraba, y más grande en la puesta del Sol.

Climbs the Andes until their highest peak From the sea, the metal of his voice and between skies and everlasting snows shalt itrise the throne of the Liberator.

May trumpets of glory sound clearly and rise a tryumphal anthem because the light of history make gigantic the figure of the Great Captain.

Great father of the Argentine People, big hero of freedom! beneath his shadow the Fatherland grows in virtute, in work, and in peace.

San Martín! San Martín! may your name, the honour and glory of the people of the South, assure for ever the fates of the Fatherland enlighted by your light

From the lands of River Plate to Mendoza, from Santiago to gentile Lima, he went seeding laurels in the way in his triumphal journey, San Martín.

San Martín, the lord of war, for God's secret chose, was big when the Sun enlighted him, and even bigger in the Sun's decline.

Music: Arturo Luzzatt

Lyrics: Segundo M. Argarañaz

External links

Short biography of San Martín
Another short biography
Biography of San Martín (spanish)
History of San Martín (spanish)
Articles on San Martin on newspaper Clarín (spanish)
Sanmartinian National Institute (spanish)
Short biography of San Martín by Felipe Pigna (spanish)

References

Notification to the Government sent by San Martín after the Battle of San Lorenzo (wikisource, spanish).
Letter from San Martín to Bolivar (1821) (wikisource, spanish)
es:José de San Martín
es:Bernardo O'Higgins
es:Batalla de Maipú
es:Batalla de Chacabuco

Bibliography

Historia de San Martín y de la Emancipación Sudamericana, (History of San Martín and the southamerican emancipation) by Bartolomé Mitre (1887)
Historia Integral de la Argentina, (Integral history of Argentina) by Félix Luna (1994)
San Martín en el Ejército Español en la península, (San Martín in the Spanish Army in the peninsula) by Adolfo Espíndola (1989)
Documentos para la historia del Libertador General San Martín, (Documents for liberator general San Martín's history) by Instituto Nacional Sanmartiniano and the Museo Histórico Nacional (1953-1979)
Historia de la Nación Argentina, (History of the Argentine Nation) by Ricardo Levene (1940)
Los mitos de la Historia Argentina 2, (Myths of the Argentine History) by Felipe Pigna (2005)
La Caballería Argentina en la historia del ejército, (Argentina Cavalry in the history of the army) by Colonel José Luis Picciuolo (2001)
Historia Militar del Perú (Militar History of Perú) by Carlos Dellepiane (1965)