1819: Bolívar began the emancipation of Colombia with the Liberation Campaign of New Granada

Published at: 26/05/2024 08:00 AM

On May 26, 1819, the Liberation Campaign of New Granada began. It was a military action taken by Simon Bolivar in early 1819 to free New Granada (present-day Colombia) from Spanish rule.

This day lasted 77 days, from May 23, 1819, when the Liberator presented the plan in the village of the Seventy to the heads of the patriot army, until August 10 of the same year, when Bolívar entered Santa Fe de Bogotá, capital of New Granada, without resistance.

To this end, Bolívar assembled some 2,200 troops, organized into four battalions, three regiments, a squadron and an artillery company that lacked guns.

On August 7, they found royal forces on their way in Boyacá. The patriots were outnumbered, but they still managed to win this decisive battle. After this fact, the Spaniards leave Bogotá and Bolívar assumes command.

The victory in the battle of Boyacá initially liberated the territories of New Granada. By December of that same year, independence was proclaimed for all provinces and Gran Colombia was created with Simon Bolivar at its head.

Mazo News Team