The Americas

United Provinces of New Granada
AD 1810 - 1816

The independence of the former 'Viceroyalty of New Granada' was declared on 20 July 1810, and after two false starts a congress of the United Provinces was convened in late 1811. On 4 October 1812 the United Provinces of New Granada (Nueva Granada) were made official as a federation which was governed by a parliamentary system with a capital at Tunja. It consisted of Bogota (at the centre of modern Colombia), Cartagena de Indias (Colombia), Guyana (to the east of Venezuela), Merida-La Grita (eastern Venezuela), Panama, Popayan, Quito (modern Ecuador), Santa Marta, and Venezuela itself. Quito remained a Royalist stronghold throughout the wars of 1810-1821, which was natural enough as it bordered Peru, which remained the base of Royalist operations until the end of Spanish suzerainty in the Americas.

1810 - 1812

Former viceroy of New Granada.

1812 - 1814

President of the congress.

1814

A three-member executive power is appointed to govern, with the presiding member heading the administration.

Thanks to France's occupation of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars, Spain's colonies in the Americas quickly took the opportunity to declare their independence

1814

First presiding member of the executive power (acting).

1814 - 1815

First full presiding member of the executive power.

1815

1815

1815 - 1816

1816

1816

Acting. Died 1816.

1816

Second term of office.

1816

1815 - 1816

The United Provinces are re-conquered by Spain on 18 December 1815. Much of Granada is reincorporated back into Spanish colonial possessions, with the 'Viceroyalty of New Granada' being re-established to govern it.

Viceroyalty of New Granada
AD 1816 - 1819

When the 'United Provinces of New Granada' were formed in 1810 out of the wreckage of the former 'Viceroyalty of New Granada' (largely modern Colombia) the Spanish viceroy became the first president of the supreme governing body. The Spanish governorship retreated to Panama where Benito Perez Brito was appointed in opposition to the parliamentary federation that was based in Tunja, although he wasn't officially sworn in until March 1812. The title of viceroy was revived by Spain in 1816, and on 18 December 1815, Granada was regained by Spain and the viceroyalty was re-established. However, it never managed to assert its authority over the entire territory and instead spent its short existence fighting a war against rebels who were determined to throw off Spanish rule forever.

1810 - 1813

Held governorship from Portobelo, Panama. Died 1813.

1813 - 1818

Governor and captain-general until 1816, then viceroy.

1818 - 1819

1819 - 1821

Titular viceroy only. Died 1822.

1820 - 1821

On 8 September 1820, the Liberation Expedition of Peru is organised in Chile and lands on the beach near the city of Pisco in Peru. Lima is occupied on 21 July 1821 and the independence of Peru (and therefore Spanish America) from Spain is proclaimed on 28 July. The republic of Gran Columbia is formed just four months later.