Chilean War of Independence
The Chilean War of Independence (Spanish: Guerra de la Independencia de Chile, 'War of Independence of Chile') was a military and political event that allowed the emancipation of Chile from the Spanish Monarchy, ending the colonial period and initiating the formation of an independent republic.
| Chilean War of Independence | |||||||||
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| Part of the Spanish American wars of independence | |||||||||
Clockwise from top left:
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Patriots:
Mapuche allies:
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Royalists:
Mapuche allies:
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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| Strength | |||||||||
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Chilean Army Chilean Navy and privateers Army of the Andes Mapuche warriors |
Royalist Army Spanish Navy and privateers Mapuche warriors | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
It developed in the context of the Spanish American Wars of independence, a military and political process that began after the formation of self-government juntas in the Spanish-American colonies, in response to the capture of King Ferdinand VII of Spain by Napoleonic forces in 1808. The First Government Junta of Chile was formed for that purpose. But then, it began to gradually radicalize, which caused a military struggle between Patriots, who were looking for a definitive separation from the Spanish Crown; and Royalists, who sought to maintain unity with her.
Traditionally, Chilean historiography covers this period between the establishment of the First Government Junta of Chile (September 18, 1810) and the resignation of Bernardo O'Higgins as Supreme Director of Chile (January 28, 1823). It is also subdivided into three stages: the Patria Vieja (1810–1814), Reconquista (1814–1817) and the Patria Nueva (1817–1823). Although the war itself began in 1812, the year in which the first hostile actions took place, and lasted until the end of the 1820s, when the last royalists forces were defeated in the Chiloé Archipelago in 1826 and in Araucanía in 1827.
A declaration of independence was officially issued by Chile on February 12, 1818 and formally recognized by Spain in 1844, when full diplomatic relations were established.