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José de San Martín promoted
José de San Martín was promoted to lieutenant colonel for his conduct in the Battle of Bailén. This led to more responsibility and more power for San Martín. He later was given the task of organizing grenadiers against the Spanish royalists who threatened the revolutionary government in Argentina. -
José de San Martín serves many years in the army (1809-18120
José had served many years in the army, he was higher than the most professional of soldiers, first battling against the brutal Napoleon for a span of
three years, then moving on to fighting Spain for independence. -
San Martín reaches Argentina
In 1812, San Martín reaches Argentina and many wars ensue. In the early stages of the wars, the patriot army had some success. However, they were defeated further to the north, and in 1814, San Martín became the commander of the army. -
Simon Bolivar takes control of Caracas
In 1813 at the head of an army of Liberation, Bolivar returned to venezuela and wins six successive engagements with the spanish forces. On august 6 1813 he enters Caracas. Welcomed as the Liberator, he takes political control with dictatorial powers. -
Chile and San Martín
For three years, José de San Martín trains and prepares his army for an invasion of Chile. Finally they are ready, and his 5000 men army begins a trek across the Andes. Many people die during the journey, but they surprise the Spanish and win the Battle. San Martín enters Santiago three days later. -
San Martín fights his way westward across the Ande
He accomplished this party by a double bluff, which caused the commander to divide his forces to guard all possible routes, which allowed San Martín to attack the weakest points. This feat has often been compared to Hannibal and Napoleon. He finally routed the remaining armies, about 5000 troops, on April 5, 1818. -
Bolivar takes Bogotá by surprise attack
They descend upon the spanish army which immediately surrenders. Three days later Bolivar enters Bogotá. On December 17, the Republica de Colombia is proclaimed. -
José de San Martín in Peru
After José had defeated the Spanish troops at Chacabuco in 1817, he had marched on to Peru, declaring himself the “protector” of Peru. José was skeptical about fighting the British at Peru whom had an army almost
double the size of his 4,500 men. -
Meeting with Bolívar
San Martín and Bolívar met in Guayaquil, a place that Bolívar already conquered. They had both discussed who was going to finish off the last of the Spanish, San Martín had decided to step down and allow Bolívar the control. San Martín had retired in Peru and had moved to Europe when the people had detested his presence in the country. He had then come back when there was a dispute in Brazil, which later had created Uruguay. -
Bolívar in Peru
Since Bolívar was unable to cooperate with San Martín he had ideas of advancing into Peru. He has thoughts of eliminating the Spanish to advance further north. He has power over the army and has the power of a “dictatorial political authority”. He pledged to deliver a “free and sovereign Peru”. He trusted his talented chief of staff, Antonio José de Sucre to lead the charge against the Spanish army. He had been in the Battle of Ayacucho and he had been successful and had eliminated almost all o
