Spanish American wars of independence
- Period
- 1808–1833
- Sides
- Spanish Empire vs Independence movements
- Battles
- 27
The Spanish American wars of independence were a series of conflicts across the Spanish Empire in the early 19th century. They began shortly after the outbreak of the Peninsular War and formed part of the broader Napoleonic Wars.
Sources: Wikipedia — Spanish American wars of independence · CC BY-SA 4.0
Battles 27
1810
Battle of Suipacha
The Battle of Suipacha was fought on 7 November 1810 in Bolivia during the Bolivian War of Independence between the Spanish colonial army and the Republican forces sent by the Primera Junta from Buenos Aires. At the time, Bolivia was known as Upper Peru. It was the first decisive defeat of the Royalists by Republican forces. The battle took place 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Tupiza, near the small town of Suipacha, on the margin of the Suipacha river in the Sud Chichas province.
1810
Battle of Cotagaita
The Battle of Cotagaita was fought on 27 October 1810 during the Campaign of Upper Peru in the Argentine War of Independence when the troops of the Army of the North were sent by the Primera Junta government in Buenos Aires to Upper Peru to fight the Royalists. It was the first skirmish of the Army of the North in this theatre. The battle was fought near the town of Santiago de Cotagaita, nowadays in the Potosí Department in Bolivia.
1811
Battle of Huaqui
The Battle of Huaqui or Battle of Guaqui-modern spelling-, was a battle on June 20, 1811, between the Primera Junta's revolutionary troops and the royalist troops of the Viceroyalty of Peru on the border between Upper Peru, resulting in a comprehensive defeat of the revolutionary armies.
1811
Siege of Montevideo (1811)
The first siege of Montevideo took place between May and October 1811, when the troops of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata unsuccessfully besieged the city of Montevideo, still held by Spanish loyalists.
1811
Battle of San Nicolás
The Battle of San Nicolás was a naval engagement on 2 March 1811 on the Paraná River between the Spanish royalists from Montevideo, and the first flotilla created by the revolutionary government of Buenos Aires. It was the first engagement between the two fleets in the Río de la Plata region since the revolution, and a royalist victory.
1812
Battle of Tucumán
The Battle of Tucumán was fought on 24 and 25 September 1812 near the Argentine city of San Miguel de Tucumán, during the Argentine War of Independence. The Army of the North, commanded by General Manuel Belgrano, defeated the royalist troops commanded by General Pío de Tristán, who had a two-to-one advantage in numbers, halting the royalist advance on Argentina's northwest. Together with the Battle of Salta, on 20 February 1813, the victory at Tucumán allowed the Argentine troops to reaffirm the borders under their control.
1812
Battle of Cerrito
The Battle of Cerrito, was a battle for the War of Independence of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, between the royalist forces who had control of the city of Montevideo and the rebel forces of the government of Buenos Aires.
1812–1814
Siege of Montevideo (1812–1814)
The event known as the second siege of Montevideo took place between 1812 and 1814, when the patriotic troops led by José Rondeau besieged the city of Montevideo, still held by Spanish loyalists under the leadership of Gaspar de Vigodet, governor of Montevideo. The siege was successful and marked the end of the Spanish presence in present-day Uruguay.
1813
Battle of San Lorenzo
The Battle of San Lorenzo was fought on 3 February 1813 in San Lorenzo, Argentina, then part of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. The royalist troops were composed of militiamen recruited in Montevideo under the command of militia captain Antonio Zabala, who were defeated by the Regiment of Mounted Grenadiers under the command of José de San Martín. This battle was the baptism by fire for this military unit, as well as for San Martín in the Spanish American wars of independence.
1813
Battle of Salta
The Battle of Salta took place on February 20, 1813, on the plains of Castañares, north of the present-day Argentine city of Salta, during the Argentine War of Independence. The Army of the North, under the command of general Manuel Belgrano, defeated for the second time the royalist troops of general Pío de Tristán, after their victory in the previous September at the Battle of Tucumán. The unconditional surrender of the royalist troops ensured Argentine control over most of the northern territories of the former Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.
1813
Battle of Vilcapugio
The Battle of Vilcapugio was a major battle fought on October 1, 1813, during the second Campaign of Upper Peru in the Argentine War of Independence, where the United Provinces forces led by General Manuel Belgrano were defeated by a royalist army, led by Joaquin de la Pezuela.
1815
Battle of Viluma
The Battle of Viluma, also known as Battle of Sipe-Sipe, was a major battle in the South American wars of independence in which the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata were decisively defeated in Upper Peru by the Royal Army of Viceroyalty of Peru. The battle took place on November 29, 1815 on a plain west of Cochabamba, and resulted in the loss of Upper Peru for Buenos Aires. The area was reannexed by the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru.
1817
Battle of Chacabuco
The Battle of Chacabuco, fought during the Chilean War of Independence, took place on February 12, 1817. The Army of the Andes, from the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata and led by Captain–General José de San Martín, defeated a Spanish force commanded by Rafael Maroto. This victory was a significant defeat for the Captaincy General of Chile, the royalist government established after the division of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
1818
Battle of Maipú
The Battle of Maipú was fought near Santiago, Chile on 5 April 1818, between South American rebels and Spanish royalists, during the Chilean War of Independence. The Patriot rebels led by Argentine general José de San Martín effectively destroyed the Spanish forces commanded by General Mariano Osorio, and completed the independence of the core area of Chile from Spanish domination.
1818
Battle of Cancha Rayada (1818)
The Battle of Cancha Rayada, was fought in Chile between South American patriots and Spanish royalists, during the Osorio's campaign in the South American wars of independence. The result was a defeat for the patriot forces, weeks later the patriots take their rematch at the Battle of Maipú.
1819
Battle of Boyacá
The Battle of Boyacá (1819), also known as the Battle of Boyacá Bridge, was a decisive victory by a combined army of Venezuelan and New Granadan troops along with a British Legion led by General Simon Bolivar over the III Division of the Spanish Expeditionary Army of Costa Firme commanded by Spanish Colonel José María Barreiro. This victory ensured the success of Bolívar's campaign to liberate New Granada. The battle of Boyacá is considered a crucial point in the independence of the north of South America, as it allowed further patriot victories at the battles of Carabobo in Venezuela, Pichincha in Ecuador, and Junín and Ayacucho in Peru. New Granada acquired its definitive independence from the Spanish Monarchy, although fighting with royalist forces would continue for years.
1819
Battle of Vargas Swamp
The Battle of Vargas Swamp fought on July 25, 1819, was an engagement of Bolívar's campaign to liberate New Granada. The battle involved a joint Venezuelan and Neogranadine army commanded by General Simón Bolívar against the III Division of the Spanish Royalist Army commanded by Colonel José María Barreiro. The Battle of Vargas Swamp is considered one of the most important battles of the Colombian War of Independence, as it cleared the path for the Patriot army to advance towards Santafé de Bogotá, while also demoralizing the Royalist troops. Vargas Swamp was also the bloodiest battle of the 1819 New Granadan liberation campaign.
1820
Battle of Camino Real
The Battle of Camino Real, was the first battle in the Ecuadorian War of Independence, that took place on 9 November 1820. The battle was fought between Royalist soldiers in support of the Spanish Empire, and the Patriot forces of the Free Province of Guayaquil, who won the battle.
1820
First Battle of Huachi
The First Battle of Huachi was the second battle in the Ecuadorian War of Independence, that took place on 22 November 1820 near Ambato, Ecuador. The battle was fought between Royalist soldiers in support of the Spanish Empire, and the Patriot forces of the Free Province of Guayaquil, who suffered a serious defeat.
1821
Battle of Carabobo
The Second Battle of Carabobo, on 24 June 1821, was fought between independence fighters, led by Venezuelan General Simón Bolívar, and the Royalist forces, led by Spanish Field Marshal Miguel de la Torre. Bolívar's decisive victory at Carabobo led to the independence of Venezuela and establishment of the Republic of Gran Colombia.
1821
Battle of Yaguachi
The Battle of Yaguachi or Battle of Cone was a military confrontation that occurred on 19 August 1821 between Guayaquil independence troops and Grancolombian reinforcements, led by Antonio José de Sucre, against Royalist troops led by Colonel Francisco González. The battle was fought near the city of Yaguachi, current Province of Guayas in Ecuador, and was a victory for the Patriots which ensured the definitive independence of the Free Province of Guayaquil.
1821
Second Battle of Huachi
The Second Battle of Huachi was a confrontation that occurred on 12 September 1821 between pro-independence troops led by General Antonio José de Sucre and Royalist troops led by General Melchor Aymerich, president of the Real Audiencia of Quito. Sucre, after having won the Battle of Yaguachi on 19 August, advanced towards Quito. The Spanish, who followed closely, positioned themselves to do battle in a field called Huachi, where they had already defeated Guayaquil forces a year before.
1822
Battle of Pichincha
The Battle of Pichincha took place on 24 May 1822, on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, 3,500 meters above sea-level, right next to the city of Quito, in modern Ecuador.
1822
Battle of Ica
The Battle of Ica or Disaster at Macacona was a battle during the Peruvian War of Independence, which occurred on 7 April 1822 at the Hacienda Macacona near Ica, between the Liberation Army of Peru under command of Peruvian General Domingo Tristán, and the Spanish Royal Army under Gen. Brigadier José de Canterac. The Patriot army was decisively routed.
1823
Battle of Lake Maracaibo
The Battle of Lake Maracaibo also known as the "Naval Battle of the Lake" was fought on 24 July 1823 on Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo between fleets under the commands of Republican Admiral José Prudencio Padilla and royalist Captain Ángel Laborde.
1824
Battle of Ayacucho
The Battle of Ayacucho was a decisive military encounter during the Peruvian War of Independence. This battle secured the independence of Peru and ensured independence for the rest of belligerent South American states. In Peru, it is considered the end of the Spanish American wars of independence. However, the campaign of Antonio José de Sucre continued through 1825 in Upper Peru, and the siege of the fortresses Chiloé and Callao eventually ended in 1826.
1824
Battle of Junín
The Battle of Junín was a large cavalry engagement of the Peruvian War of Independence, fought in the highlands of the Junín Region on 6 August 1824. The preceding February the royalists had regained control of Lima, and having regrouped in Trujillo, Simón Bolívar in June led his rebel forces south to confront the Spanish under Field Marshal José de Canterac. The two armies met on the Plain of Junín in the Bombon Plateau, northwest of the Jauja Valley.
Earlier and later events nearby
- 1438Rise of the Inca Empire
- c. 1450Machu Picchu
- 1780–1783Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II
- 1808–1833Spanish American wars of independenceThis page
- 1824Battle of Ayacucho
- 1879–1884War of the Pacific
Who ruled this land
States that held this place in the historical borders data (Cliopatria). Years are approximate, as fine as the data's snapshots (every few years to a century). Tap to open the map for that year.
Other maps for this period
- War mapsAnglo-Maratha Wars
- War mapsNapoleonic Wars
- War mapsWar of 1812
- Epidemics map1817–1824 cholera pandemic
- Epidemics map1826–1837 cholera pandemic
- Inventions mapView from the Window at Le Gras