Battle of Boyacá

Independence was first declared in Colombia on 20th July 1810, but the Spanish rejected the idea. The ongoing struggle involved many battles against what was increasingly a Spanish Empire in retreat, who at times were fighting alongside the French during the Napoleonic Wars whilst trying to fend off successive independence movements across the Spanish American possessions in particular.

Bolívar's involvement eventually resulted in Spain recognising Colombia's independence on 7th August 1819 when the imperialistic power was beaten at the Battle of Boyacá. In the Battle of Boyacá, Brigadier Generals Francisco de Paula Santander and José Antonio Anzoátegui led a combined Republican army of Colombians and Venezuelans, complemented by a small British Legion made up mostly of Irish volunteers (including veterans of the Napoleonic Wars), to victory over a Spanish Royalist force led by Colonels José María Barreiro and Francisco Jiménez. The battle took place 150 km from Bogotá in the Andes Mountains.

After securing a narrow victory at Pantano de Vargas, the elite of Bolívar's forces led by Santander eventually caught up with the Royalist (Spanish) army in its march towards the road leading to Bogotá, the capture of which would effectively cut off the advance of the Republican army and give the strategic initiative to its opponents.

The Republicans forced a confrontation, through a surprise attack which divided Barreiro's army at a strategic bridge, splitting the Royalist force in half. Each half was defeated in turn by Santander's and Anzoátegui's forces, which used their cavalry squadrons to strike their foes' respective rearguards.

If you're looking for a way to commemorate this event, you might be interested in this article: Commemorations with Cross Stitch

Web design by: TheWebsiteDesign.Co.UK

Copyright ©2010 TWSD Services, All rights reserved