Government Junta of Chile (1829)
Encyclopedia
Government Junta of Chile (December 24, 1829 - February 18, 1830), was the political structure established to rule Chile
following the defeat of the Liberal army at the Battle of Ochagavía. It ruled the country until February 18, 1830, when Francisco Ruiz-Tagle
assumed as the new Acting President.
was forced twice to leave the post of president to Francisco Ramón Vicuña
. First, from July 14 to October 19, when Vicuña assumed as President Delegate, and then finally when he resigned on November 2 and Vicuña assumed power.
On December 7, 1829 the conservative troops under General José Joaquín Prieto
, commander of the southern army, approached Santiago from the South. The conservative army decided to halt the march onto Santiago for a while and camped a few miles outside the city. The government under Vicuña fled northward towards Coquimbo
but were captured before arriving there. On December 14, 1829 General Prieto and his troops met the liberal army under Francisco de la Lastra
and defeated them at the Battle of Ochagavía.
After the battle, the two military leaders, Prieto and de la Lastra, signed a peace treaty which complicated the political situation further since the real decision power on the Liberal side was in the hands of Ramón Freire and not in the de la Lastra, who acted in this matter without previous consent. Meanwhile President Vicuña and his ministers where imprisoned by the victorious conservative troops in Valparaiso
.
Chile was without a leader for a few weeks (from December 7 to 24, 1829) until a Government Junta was organized and took control, under a neutral José Tomás Ovalle
(the only one who was acceptable to both sides), in order to avoid the continuance of hostilities.
, head of the O'Higgins party, which nominated Francisco Ruiz-Tagle
as acting president.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
following the defeat of the Liberal army at the Battle of Ochagavía. It ruled the country until February 18, 1830, when Francisco Ruiz-Tagle
Francisco Ruiz-Tagle
Francisco Antonio Pascual de la Ascensión Ruiz de Tagle y Portales was a Chilean political figure. In 1830, he was briefly president of the country. Provisional President of Republic of Chile elected by Congress.-Biography:...
assumed as the new Acting President.
Creation
When the Chilean Civil War of 1829 broke out between the conservative centralists and the liberal federalists, President Francisco Antonio PintoFrancisco Antonio Pinto
Francisco Antonio Pinto y Díaz de la Puente was a Chilean political figure. He was twice President of Chile between 1827 and 1829.-Early life:He was born in Santiago, the son of Joaquín Pinto and Mercedes Díaz de la Puente...
was forced twice to leave the post of president to Francisco Ramón Vicuña
Francisco Ramón Vicuña
Francisco Ramón de Vicuña Larraín was a Chilean political figure. He served twice as acting President of Chile in 1829. Francisco Vicuña was of Basque descent.-Early life:...
. First, from July 14 to October 19, when Vicuña assumed as President Delegate, and then finally when he resigned on November 2 and Vicuña assumed power.
On December 7, 1829 the conservative troops under General José Joaquín Prieto
José Joaquín Prieto
José Joaquín Prieto Vial was a Chilean military and political figure. He was twice President of Chile between 1831 and 1841. José Joaquín Prieto was of Spanish and Basque descent.-Early life:...
, commander of the southern army, approached Santiago from the South. The conservative army decided to halt the march onto Santiago for a while and camped a few miles outside the city. The government under Vicuña fled northward towards Coquimbo
Coquimbo
Coquimbo is a port city, commune and capital of the Elqui Province, located on the Pan-American Highway, in the Coquimbo Region of Chile. Coquimbo lies in a valley south of La Serena, with which it forms Greater La Serena with more than 400,000 inhabitants. The commune spans an area around the...
but were captured before arriving there. On December 14, 1829 General Prieto and his troops met the liberal army under Francisco de la Lastra
Francisco de la Lastra
General Francisco de la Lastra y de la Sotta was a Chilean military officer and the first Supreme Director of Chile .-Biography:...
and defeated them at the Battle of Ochagavía.
After the battle, the two military leaders, Prieto and de la Lastra, signed a peace treaty which complicated the political situation further since the real decision power on the Liberal side was in the hands of Ramón Freire and not in the de la Lastra, who acted in this matter without previous consent. Meanwhile President Vicuña and his ministers where imprisoned by the victorious conservative troops in Valparaiso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
.
Chile was without a leader for a few weeks (from December 7 to 24, 1829) until a Government Junta was organized and took control, under a neutral José Tomás Ovalle
José Tomás Ovalle
José Tomás Ovalle y Bezanilla was a Chilean political figure. He served twice as provisional president of Chile.-Early life:...
(the only one who was acceptable to both sides), in order to avoid the continuance of hostilities.
Members
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President | José Tomás Ovalle y Bezanilla José Tomás Ovalle José Tomás Ovalle y Bezanilla was a Chilean political figure. He served twice as provisional president of Chile.-Early life:... |
| Member | Isidoro de Errázuriz Aldunate |
| Member | José María Guzmán Ibáñez |
History
This junta ruled the country from December 24, 1829 to February 18, 1830. Real power was still retained by Ramón Freire who organized a liberal convention with the intention of calling for new general elections and the formation of a new Congress. At the same time, the conservatives who were in control of Santiago also called for their own convention, where an agreement was reached between Ramón Freire and José Antonio Rodríguez AldeaJosé Antonio Rodríguez Aldea
José Antonio Rodríguez Aldea was a Chilean politician....
, head of the O'Higgins party, which nominated Francisco Ruiz-Tagle
Francisco Ruiz-Tagle
Francisco Antonio Pascual de la Ascensión Ruiz de Tagle y Portales was a Chilean political figure. In 1830, he was briefly president of the country. Provisional President of Republic of Chile elected by Congress.-Biography:...
as acting president.
See also
- History of ChileHistory of ChileThe territory of Chile has been populated since at least 2,000 BC. By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors began to subdue and colonize the region of present-day Chile, and the territory became a colony from 1540 to 1818, when it gained independence from Spain...
- List of Government Juntas of Chile
- List of Heads of StatePresident of ChileThe President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...