The Battle of Ayacucho
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Most of South America speaks Spanish, because the nations there began their histories as colonies of Spain (with the exception of Brazil, which belonged to Portugal; and the Guianas, being Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, where today English, Dutch, and French are spoken).
So when independence movements arose in the early 19th century, a "domino effect" took place; starting in 1808 (sparked by the Napoleonic invasion of Spain), in 25 years Spain lost dominion over all of its possessions, not only in South America, but throughout the Americas, including Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, with the exceptions of the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico.
The Royalists, those loyal to the King of Spain (the Bonapartist Joseph I from 1808 to 1813, and Ferdinand VII of the House of Bourbon until 1833) faced various "Independentist" movements, some led notably by Simón Bolívar, called "the Liberator," whose military efforts freed what are now Venezuela, Bolivia (named for him), Colombia (named for Columbus!), Ecuador, Peru, and Panama.
The Peruvian War of Independence began in 1811 at the Battle of Guaqui between revolutionary troops and the Royalists. It ended in effect at the December 9, 1824, Battle of Ayacucho, though mopping up took until 1826 (independence, however, was declared, and is celebrated as beginning, in 1821).
Through most of 1824, the southern parts of Peru were almost entirely in Royalist hands until Royalist and Independentist forces met between Ayacucho and Quinua (an alternate name for the battle). The Independentists were led by Antonio José de Sucre, lieutenant to Bolivar, who had turned the campaign over to him when he (Bolivar) was recalled to Colombia.
Bolivar later wrote of Sucre's success:
"The Battle of Ayacucho is the summit of American glory, and the work of General Sucre. The planning of it was perfect, and the execution divine. Coming generations will commemorate the victory of Ayacucho to bless it and contemplate it sitting on the throne of freedom, commanding to Americans the exercise of their rights and the sacred laws of nature."