British Legions
The British Legion (Spanish: Legión británica) or British Legions were foreign volunteer units which fought under Simón Bolívar against Spain for the independence of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, and under José de San Martín for the independence of Peru, in the Spanish American wars of independence.: 217–220 Venezuelans generally called them the Albion Legion. They were composed of over seven thousand volunteers, mainly Napoleonic War veterans from Great Britain and Ireland, as well as some German veterans and some locals recruited after arriving in South America. Volunteers in the British Legion were motivated by a combination of both genuine political conviction and mercenary motives.
| British Legions | |
|---|---|
Rifle regiments similar to those who would have fought under Bolivar | |
| Active | 1817–1824 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | Venezuela (1817–1819) Gran Colombia (1819–1824) |
| Type | Infantry Cavalry Artillery |
| Size | ~6,500 |
| Motto(s) | "Morir o vencer (Die or Conquer)" |
| March | "Ye Gentlemen of England" |
| Engagements | Spanish American wars of independence |
| Commanders | |
| Supreme commander | Simón Bolívar |
| Notable commanders | James Rooke Arthur Sandes |
| Insignia | |
| The Union Flag carried throughout the campaigns. | |
| Flag of the Irish Legion carried by General Devereux | |
Their greatest achievements were at the Boyacá (1819), Carabobo (1821), Pichincha (1822) and Battle of Ayacucho (1824) which secured independence for Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru from Spanish rule respectively.