Bogota Declares Independence: Colombia's Struggle Begins
Citizens of Bogota rose up on July 20, 1810, deposing the Spanish viceroy and establishing a revolutionary junta that became the first step toward Colombian independence. The uprising was triggered by a calculated insult: Creole leaders deliberately provoked a confrontation with a Spanish merchant, knowing the resulting clash would galvanize public anger. The junta declared autonomy from Spain but not full independence, which came only in 1819 after Simon Bolivar's military campaigns, particularly his victory at the Battle of Boyaca. July 20 is celebrated as Colombia's Independence Day, though the path from junta to sovereign nation took nearly a decade of brutal civil war and foreign intervention.
July 20, 1810
216 years ago
Key Figures & Places
Spain
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Bogotá
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Viceroyalty of New Granada
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Bogotá
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Viceroyalty of New Granada
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Nuevo Reino de Granada
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Revuelta del 20 de julio de 1810
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Carmen de Carupa
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Independencia de Colombia
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Histoire de la Colombie
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Erste Republik Kolumbien
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