Chuquisaca Revolution
Encyclopedia
The Chuquisaca Revolution was a popular uprising on 25 May 1809 against the governor and intendant of Chuquisaca (today Sucre
), Ramón García León de Pizarro. The Real Audiencia of Charcas, with support from the faculty of University of Saint Francis Xavier
, deposed the governor and formed a junta
. The revolution is known in Bolivia as the "First libertarian scream" , meaning, the first step in the Spanish American wars of independence; but historians dispute whenever such description is accurate or not.
There was great concern about recent developments at Spain. French forces led by Napoleon had invaded many parts of the country and captured the Spanish king Ferdinand VII, replacing him with the French Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon. Without the authority of a king leading them, the Spanish resistance created Government Juntas
.
there were important debates about the legitimacy of the government. Bernardo de Monteagudo explained an idea that promoted Self-determination
, which would be later known as "Syllogism of Chuquisaca" It stated the following:
The junta, initially loyal to King Ferdinand VII of Spain, was justified by the suspicion that the García León de Pizarro planned to turn the country over to Princess Carlotta Joaquina, wife of Prince Regent
John
of Portugal and Brazil, but from the beginning the revolution provided a framework for the actions of the separatists who spread the rebellion to La Paz
, where a Junta Tuitiva ("protecting junta") was formed on 16 July. The latter clearly broke with any authority in Spain and with the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
. After the second, more radical uprising was repressed violently by an army sent by Viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros
, the movement at Chuquisaca lost all external support and was finally undone by forces sent from Lima by Viceroy José Fernando de Abascal
in October.
. The researchers Juan Reyes and Genoveva Loza support the latter, arguing that in Chuquisaca the Spanish system of government was maintained and that it did not support the revolution in La Paz, while others such as Charles Arnade, Teodocio Imaña, Gabriel René Moreno or Felipe Pigna
argue that the Chuquisaca revolution supported independence, citing as its main foundation the political philosophical
concept of the "Syllogism of Chuquisaca" that proposed self-determination
. Even more, Other historians locate the first "libertarian scream" at Ecuador
rather than Bolivia, because of a revolt that took place in Quito in August, 1809.
Sucre
Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m...
), Ramón García León de Pizarro. The Real Audiencia of Charcas, with support from the faculty of University of Saint Francis Xavier
University of Saint Francis Xavier
The Royal and Pontificial Major University of Saint Francis Xavier of Chuquisaca is a public university in Sucre, Bolivia. It is one of the oldest universities of the new world, ranking as the second oldest university in the Americas behind Peru's National University of San Marcos...
, deposed the governor and formed a junta
Junta (Peninsular War)
In the Napoleonic era, junta was the name chosen by several local administrations formed in Spain during the Peninsular War as a patriotic alternative to the official administration toppled by the French invaders...
. The revolution is known in Bolivia as the "First libertarian scream" , meaning, the first step in the Spanish American wars of independence; but historians dispute whenever such description is accurate or not.
Causes
Although nearly 30 years had passed, the indigenous revolutions led by Túpac Amarú II and Tomás Katari, and their violent repression, were still remembered. Those revolutions ranged from the south of modern Colombia to the north of modern Argentina and Chile.There was great concern about recent developments at Spain. French forces led by Napoleon had invaded many parts of the country and captured the Spanish king Ferdinand VII, replacing him with the French Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon. Without the authority of a king leading them, the Spanish resistance created Government Juntas
Junta (Peninsular War)
In the Napoleonic era, junta was the name chosen by several local administrations formed in Spain during the Peninsular War as a patriotic alternative to the official administration toppled by the French invaders...
.
Development
The news of the fall of Ferdinand VII in Spain caused great concern in the city, and in the University of ChuquisacaUniversity of Saint Francis Xavier
The Royal and Pontificial Major University of Saint Francis Xavier of Chuquisaca is a public university in Sucre, Bolivia. It is one of the oldest universities of the new world, ranking as the second oldest university in the Americas behind Peru's National University of San Marcos...
there were important debates about the legitimacy of the government. Bernardo de Monteagudo explained an idea that promoted Self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
, which would be later known as "Syllogism of Chuquisaca" It stated the following:
The junta, initially loyal to King Ferdinand VII of Spain, was justified by the suspicion that the García León de Pizarro planned to turn the country over to Princess Carlotta Joaquina, wife of Prince Regent
Prince Regent
A prince regent is a prince who rules a monarchy as regent instead of a monarch, e.g., due to the Sovereign's incapacity or absence ....
John
John VI of Portugal
John VI John VI John VI (full name: João Maria José Francisco Xavier de Paula Luís António Domingos Rafael; (13 May 1767 – 10 March 1826) was King of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves (later changed to just King of Portugal and the Algarves, after Brazil was recognized...
of Portugal and Brazil, but from the beginning the revolution provided a framework for the actions of the separatists who spread the rebellion to La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, where a Junta Tuitiva ("protecting junta") was formed on 16 July. The latter clearly broke with any authority in Spain and with the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, , was the last and most short-lived Viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire in America.The Viceroyalty was established in 1776 out of several former Viceroyalty of Perú dependencies that mainly extended over the Río de la Plata basin, roughly the present day...
. After the second, more radical uprising was repressed violently by an army sent by Viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros
Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros
Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros de la Torre was a Spanish naval officer born in Cartagena. He took part in the Battle of Cape St Vincent and the Battle of Trafalgar, and in the Spanish resistance against Napoleon's invasion in 1808. He was later appointed Viceroy of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la...
, the movement at Chuquisaca lost all external support and was finally undone by forces sent from Lima by Viceroy José Fernando de Abascal
José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa
José Fernando de Abascal y Sousa, 1st Marquis of La Concordia , was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator in America...
in October.
Historiography
This revolution did not intend to alter Chuquisaca's loyalty to the king, while the revolution of La Paz openly declared independence. Today, historians do not agree on whether the revolution of Chuquisaca was motivated by independence or if it was just a dispute between supporters of Ferdinand VII and Carlota. Consequently, there is disagreement on whether the first revolution to proclaim independence in Spanish America was that of Chuquisaca or that of La PazLa Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
. The researchers Juan Reyes and Genoveva Loza support the latter, arguing that in Chuquisaca the Spanish system of government was maintained and that it did not support the revolution in La Paz, while others such as Charles Arnade, Teodocio Imaña, Gabriel René Moreno or Felipe Pigna
Felipe Pigna
Felipe Pigna, born in Mercedes, Buenos Aires, in 1959, is an Argentine historian and writer. He's currently among the best selling book authors from Argentina.- Biography :...
argue that the Chuquisaca revolution supported independence, citing as its main foundation the political philosophical
Political philosophy
Political philosophy is the study of such topics as liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why they are needed, what, if anything, makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it...
concept of the "Syllogism of Chuquisaca" that proposed self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
. Even more, Other historians locate the first "libertarian scream" at Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
rather than Bolivia, because of a revolt that took place in Quito in August, 1809.