Bolivia History Wars of Independence, 1809-1825

The Bolivian War of Independence (Spanish: Guerra de Independencia de Bolivia, 1809–1825) began with the establishment of government juntas in Sucre and La Paz after the Chuquisaca Revolution and La Paz revolution. These Juntas, part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, were defeated shortly after by Peruvian royalist forces. Following the May Revolution of 1810, which ousted the viceroy in Buenos Aires and established its own junta, the territory was incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Peru. Buenos Aires then sent three large military expeditions to Upper Peru, headed by Juan José Castelli, Manuel Belgrano and José Rondeau, but the royalists ultimately prevailed over each one. However, the conflict grew into a guerrilla war, the War of the Republiquetas, preventing the royalists from strengthening their presence. After Simón Bolívar and Antonio José de Sucre defeated the royalists in the Independence of Peru, Sucre led a campaign that was to defeat the royalists in Charcas for good when the last royalist general, Pedro Antonio Olañeta, suffered death and defeat at the hands of his own defected forces at the Battle of Tumusla. Bolivian independence was proclaimed on 6 August 1825.