Chilean Independence

The Chilean Independence looks back to the times of the Spanish domination in this south American colony and the subsequent ousting of the Europeans. The period of the Independence can be roughly considered to be the time from 1810 till 1818. However, there had been much agitation even before and after the official dates of independence. On the 18th of September, 1818 Chile achieved its much desired independence from Spain. The period of struggle and political upheavals can be clearly distinguished into three phases. These phases are the Patria Vieja, Reconquista and Patria Nueva.

The struggle for independence of Chile surfaced when Napoleon Bonaparte of France resolved to take over the administration of Chile on grounds that they had occupied Spain. Chile at this point of time was the colony of Spain. So Napoleon Bonaparte had his brother, Joseph Bonaparte crowned as the king of Chile. This did not go down with the people, who eventually in 1818 chose self government. For a long period of time, there was a dilemma over the fact who should rule Chile, the regional politicians, the French monarch or the Spanish colonizers.



The Periods of Chilean Struggle for Independence
Patria Vieja (1810-1814): This word means old fatherland. This was the time when Jose Miguel Carrera Verdugo introduced and asserted the idea of self rule or self government. He was the elected president of Chile for two years. During this time, a civil war broke out. The battle of Rancagua marked the conclusion of this period.

Reconquista (1814-1817): After the battle of Rancagua on the 12th of October, 1914, the Spanish loyalists took over the administration of the country. All rebellion was nipped in bud and the Chilean people were not granted equal right as that of the Spanish. Gradually, O'Higgins and Jose de San Martin united armed forces to take over Chile. They defeated the Spanish on the 12th of February, 1817 in the battle of Chacabuco. Thus Chile Independence was won after a, decade long struggle and bloodshed.